Lavaca County Deputies Arrest MS-13 Gang Member Wanted for Homicide in El Salvador

On Friday, November 7, 2025, deputies with the Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block of East Fourth Street in Hallettsville, Texas. The driver, identified as Juan Carlos Hernandez Alvarez of El Salvador, was found to be in the United States illegally.

Further investigation revealed that Alvarez had an active homicide warrant issued by authorities in El Salvador and was flagged as violent and dangerous. He was safely taken into custody without incident.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) later confirmed that Alvarez is a documented MS-13 gang member. The homicide warrant from El Salvador connects him to the kidnapping, torture, and dismemberment of at least one victim.

Sheriff Steven Greenwell praised the deputies involved, highlighting the importance of coordinated enforcement efforts.
“Proactive traffic enforcement, combined with strong collaboration among our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, continues to produce outstanding results in identifying, disrupting, and dismantling criminal activity,” Sheriff Greenwell said. “Their unwavering commitment to protecting our citizens ensures that the criminal element has no place in Lavaca County.”