US will seek to deport man Bondi called a leader of MS-13 gang

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Wednesday that the government will seek to deport a man she previously called a leader of the MS-13 gang in the U.S., after prosecutors moved to drop a gun charge against him.

Bondi announced the arrest of a person she called one of the gang's top three leaders in a March 27 press conference, without naming the defendant or detailing charges. Later that day, the man, Henry Josue Villatoro Santos, 24, appeared in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, to face charges of illegal gun possession by an alien.

In court papers, federal prosecutors said law enforcement officials "observed indicia of MS-13 association" while searching Villatoro's bedroom, after raiding his home and arresting him on an administrative immigration warrant. They made no other references to MS-13 and his alleged leadership role and brought no other criminal charges.

Prosecutors on Wednesday did not provide a reason for seeking to dismiss the case in a brief court filing. But Bondi said in a statement that Villatoro "will now face the removal process."

A lawyer for Villatoro did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A federal judge previously ordered Villatoro to remain in jail to await trial.

At her March 27 press conference, Bondi said the man arrested would not be "living in our country much longer."

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Scott Malone and Deepa Babington)