Hugo’s Cellar manager praises employee charged in MS-13 case

One of the defendants charged in new federal indictments against members and associates of the MS-13 gang has worked at a popular downtown Las Vegas steakhouse for 20 years.

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that key figures of the gang had been indicted in New York and Nevada. Some of them face charges of terrorism, murder, kidnapping and drug trafficking.

One of the 13 men charged in Nevada is Las Vegas resident Rosalio Andres Siguenza-Romero, also known as “Tweety.” He has long worked as a runner at Hugo’s Cellar inside the Four Queens, according to his lawyer and a letter from the restaurant’s general manager.

“I’ve had a plethora of employees, but none that match the level of professionalism, respect, courteous, well-mannered and promptness,” Richard Assalone wrote in a letter filed with court documents. “He arrives at work, never complains. Always willing to step up and above to assist co-workers.”

Siguenza-Romero, 40, is in federal custody. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license, one count of dealing in firearms without a license, and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.

Married with two children

His attorney, Todd Leventhal, called Siguenza-Romero a “loving father” of two who is married and not a member of the gang.

A U.S. citizen since 2011, Siguenza-Romero obtained a permit to carry a concealed weapon — which requires fees, fingerprints and a background check from law enforcement — in Nevada last year, according to the lawyer.

“I don’t know many gang members that would actually take the time to get a CCW,” Leventhal said. “It doesn’t fit the bill. Gang members don’t do that. Law-abiding citizens do that.”

Assalone offered to house Siguenza-Romero as a “third-party custodian” while the case works its way through the court system.

“I’ve lived in this town for 46 years,” Assalone wrote. “Myself professionally, I’ve known Andre for eight years. Being the General Manager, I would love to have all my employees be at the same level as Andre. He is the backbone of our room.”

Prosecutors allege that Siguenza-Romero sold nearly a dozen weapons, some stolen, and two silencers, and that he boasted about being able to obtain more firearms, including a fully automatic AK-47.

At least one of the alleged leaders of the gang’s New York faction faces the death penalty in connection with the murder of seven people.

The arrests in Nevada and New York date to early July 2019, a little more than two months after three other suspected MS-13 gang members were indicted in Nevada on murder and racketeering charges in connection with the kidnapping and slaying of a rival gang member.

The mutilated body of 21-year-old Arquimidez Sandoval-Martinez had been found in February 2018 at a desert area near the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The defendants in that case are awaiting trial.

Nearly half of the 13 men indicted this week in Las Vegas live in Los Angeles, Nevada U.S. Attorney Nicholas Trutanich said, but they often came via “a well-worn path” to Las Vegas, a way station in the international drug trade with hubs in Central America and Mexico.

‘Honored to work with him’

The general manager of Hugo’s Cellar, the restaurant famous for tableside bananas Foster and cherries jubilee, painted a picture of Siguenza-Romero far different from the hardened criminals described on Wednesday by Trump and U.S. Attorney General William Barr.

“He is attentive, considerate of others and completes his work with pride daily,” Assalone wrote. “Andre has helped me outside of work without hesitation. Andre has helped others regardless of whom they are.”

The manager also described Siguenza-Romero as “a dedicated, loving father and family man” who speaks about his daughter playing soccer with pride and respect.

“I am honored to work with him and alongside him,” Assalone wrote.

Assalone could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Leventhal, the attorney, pointed out that Trutanich stood inside the Oval Office with Trump and Barr at a news conference announcing the new indictments.

“I think there’s very high-up, strong political ties in the indictment and this investigation,” Leventhal said. “Are there mean, bad guys in the MS-13? Is my guy one of them? Not even close.”

MS-13 is a transnational gang made up primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador. MS-13 has been in the U.S. since at least the 1980s.

Leventhal said Siguenza-Romero moved to California from El Salvador with his family when he was 11, and he moved to Las Vegas in 1998.

The indictment details dates that, but not locations where, Siguenza-Romero is accused of selling the weapons. In December, he sold a semiautomatic handgun, a semiautomatic rifle and a revolver, prosecutors allege.

‘Soft-spoken family man’

Two weeks later, one of the gang’s leaders, Adali Arnulfo Escalante-Trujillo, a “shot caller” also known as “Buchaca”, told an undercover agent that Siguenza-Romero “could get the purchaser whichever firearms the purchaser wished,” according to the indictment.

Earlier this year, the indictment alleges, Siguenza-Romero sold eight more semiautomatic weapons.

Nevada legislators passed a law that took effect in January that required most sales and transfers between private people to be processed through a federally licensed dealer as part of what was known as The Background Check Act.

Defense attorney David Fischer, who represents 43-year-old Escalante-Trujillo, said his client has lived in Las Vegas for 30 years, including the past 16 at the same address.

Fischer called Escalante-Trujillo a “soft-spoken family man” and a “very stable guy” who is “modest and humble in his demeanor.”

Ecalante-Trujillo is a legal resident in a common-law marriage who has held jobs with masonry contractors and in construction, the lawyer said.

The defendant is charged with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance and conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license.

Prosecutors allege that he had direct contact with a founding member of MS-13 in El Salvador, led the gang’s “Hollywood Locos” clique out of Las Vegas, and bragged about violent acts committed by MS-13 and its ties to the Mexican Mafia and “nearly all Mexican Cartels.”

No criminal history

Another defense attorney, Josh Tomsheck, represents 20-year-old Sebastian Ocadiz-Castro, who is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, three counts of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license.

Ocadiz-Castro, who was born and raised in Las Vegas and lives with his mother and father, worked at IHOP and Denny’s restaurants before starting his own mobile car wash business, Tomsheck said.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Koppe ordered Escalante-Trujillo and Ocadiz-Castro detained at a hearing earlier this week. Siguenza-Romero is due back in court Friday.

Prosecutors admitted at Ocadiz-Castro’s detention hearing that he was not a member of the MS-13 gang. Ocadiz-Castro, the only defendant in the Nevada indictment without a nickname listed, has no criminal history and has never been arrested, according to his lawyer.

Tomsheck said he planned to file court briefs asking another judge to review Koppe’s decision to detain Ocadiz-Castro.

Contact David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Follow @randompoker on Twitter.