Already have an account? Log in here By submitting this form, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Already have an account? Log in here By submitting this form, you agree to our Privacy Policy or sign up for a new account to continue reading We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content Please purchase a subscription to continue reading Your current subscription does not provide access to this content Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight has died as a result of a two-car crash Thursday May 1 that closed down Dale Boulevard for several hours A 32-year-old Woodbridge woman has died as a result of a two-car crash Thursday night in Dale City that closed Dale Boulevard for several hours May 1 when a 2008 Honda Civic attempted to turn left from Dale Boulevard toward Barksdale Street and collided with a 2020 Honda Civic heading west on Dale Boulevard according to Master Police Officer Renee Carr had to be extricated from the car and was transported to an area hospital was treated at an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries a 23-year-old Woodbridge,remained at the scene and was not injured Speed appears to be a factor for the 2020 Honda Crash investigators are asking anyone who may have witnessed this crash to contact policeat 703-792-6500 Stay up-to-date on the best stories about life in Prince William County with The JAM - Your News In Just A Minute newsletter Digital and Print Subscription memberships available The future of Prince William Times now depends on community support Your donation will help us continue to improve our journalism through in-depth local news coverage and expanded reader engagement Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: This article was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partner InsideNoVa.com. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today. Attorney’s Office in Alexandria has dropped a criminal charge against a Dale City man dubbed by the Trump administration as the East Coast’s top leader of the MS-13 street gang Attorney’s Office in Alexandria filed the motion Wednesday to dismiss the charge of possession of a firearm by an alien illegally present in the United States the only charge brought by federal prosecutors after the dramatic and highly-publicized March 27 arrest of Henrry Villatoro Santos at his mother’s home in the Cloverdale section of Dale City Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Villatoro’s court-appointed attorney did not immediately return requests for comment late Wednesday afternoon The charge was dismissed without prejudice Members of the FBI’s SWAT team busted open the front and back doors and deployed a stun grenade in Villatoro’s arrest at the townhouse where he lived in his mother’s garage The raid made national headlines with President Donald Trump Glenn Youngkin all publicly hailing the capture while Trump administration officials posted photos on social media of masked armed federal agents before and after the arrest A news release on the White House website called Villatoro “one of the top three MS-13 leaders in the United States,” and Attorney General Pam Bondi said he was the gang’s East Coast leader but court records do not mention Villatoro’s position within the gang only noting “indicia of MS-13 association” in his garage bedroom Police surveillance at the home began in August after his mother reported a burglary there agents observed Villatoro entering and exiting the home An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent assigned to investigate narcotics crimes transnational gangs and other criminal enterprises sought a judge’s sign off on the arrest warrant writing that Villatoro is a citizen of El Salvador and that Department of Homeland Security records show he was in the U.S Villatoro was originally taken into custody on an outstanding administrative immigration warrant agents found a 9 mm handgun in the garage bedroom It was unclear Wednesday if the ICE administrative warrant Villatoro’s criminal history in Virginia shows two possession of marijuana charges and more recent charges of driving without a license driving without insurance and operating an uninsured vehicle in August This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area Dunkin’ showed appreciation for local heroes at the Dale City Volunteer Fire Department by delivering a sweet surprise on Saturday A tragic fentanyl overdose led to murder charges for two parents in Prince William County and public intoxication incidents in Stafford and PWC – Severe thunderstorms that swept through Stafford County on Monday with the hardest-hit areas now including Austin Ridge and Aquia Harbour – Republicans from across Prince William County gathered at Fox Chase Manor for their annual black-tie Lincoln Reagan Dinner drawing a record crowd and laying out their strategy ahead of the 2025 election cycle – A bank tenant inside a newly completed data center in Manassas has triggered a sweeping local tax exemption upending financial expectations and leaving city officials blindsided and Networking — Calling middle and high school students for FREE Educational Summer Programming LLT STEMpower Camp at Marymount University Read More Submit your own Community Post here Inspired by local physicians who were among the nation’s first to adopt the concierge medicine model Northern Virginia is now a hub for its surging popularity These leading physicians are redefining the patient experience with same-day appointments MD’s change to concierge medicine enabled focused attention for each individual and the launch of his innovative diet program for those with type 2 diabetes “The goal is to promote enough weight loss to reach an acceptable A1C of 6% with no medication,” he explains “Achieving that can take several months of very close follow up MD considers his patients quite literally as family “I believe there’s nothing more honorable than helping patients when they’re sick and I care for them exactly as I would my loved ones.” Whether for a specialist referral “My patients know I’m always just a phone call away.” Read More Hosted by the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) since 2012 this highly-anticipated gathering is the nation’s leading gathering focused on empowering individuals with science-based education support and practical tools for managing weight and improving health This unique Convention truly has something Participate in the 33rd Annual Van Metre 5K Run—a race that goes further than 3.1 miles where every stride you take supports Children’s National Hospital The Van Metre 5K Run donates 100% of proceeds to Children’s National Hospital and has By submitting this form, you agree to our Privacy Policy. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. Welcome! We hope that you enjoy our free content. Thank you for signing in! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 54F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. A Woodbridge woman, 32, has died as a result of a two-car crash Thursday, May 1 that closed down Dale Boulevard for several hours. At least two people were injured in a crash in Dale City Thursday night that forced police to close a portion of busy Dale Boulevard. At least two people were injured in a crash in Dale City Thursday night that closed a portion of busy Dale Boulevard. The crash, located at Dale Boulevard and Barksdale Street, was reported at about 6:55 p.m. on Thursday, May 1. One person had to be extracted from one of the vehicles involved. Police had closed both sides of Dale Boulevard between Cloverdale Road and Benita Fitzgerald Drive as of about 7:50 p.m. Eastbound traffic was being detoured on Cloverdale Drive, while westboud traffic was being diverted at Benita Fitzgerald. Police have yet to release any information about the crash, which remains under investigation. This is a developing news story. It will be updated. Stay up-to-date on the best stories about life in Prince William County with The JAM - Your News In Just A Minute newsletter. Stay locally informed your way. Digital and Print Subscription memberships available. NEW: Monthly payment options available. The future of Prince William Times now depends on community support. Your donation will help us continue to improve our journalism through in-depth local news coverage and expanded reader engagement. Keeping you connected to the Community. Find or Submit your local event here.. Scattered thunderstorms are expected Monday afternoon and evening. Some may become severe with large hail and high winds. TRACK RADARTop MS-13 leader arrested in Dale City FBI saysby Jessica James & 7News Staff authorities arrested a top Mara Salvatrucha according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) FBI Director Kash Patel and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin shared details about the operation at the Manassas FBI field office on Thursday morning The alleged MS-13 leader is an illegal immigrant from El Salvador The gang is known for brutal violence and extortion The weeks-long operation was a joint effort with state and local agencies the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Corrections “We want to make our streets safer,” Bondi told reporters This guy was living in a neighborhood right around you According to the affidavit filed in the U.S District Couty for the Eastern District of Virginia Villatoro Santos was charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person FBI agents executed a federal search warrant on a Dale City home on March 27 after his mother had reported burglary back in August 2024 Since then FBI agents have conducted surveillance on the home and saw Villatoro Santos coming and going from the home FBI agents announced their arrival and tried to get someone to open the door before they breached the home and found Villatoro Santos hiding in an alcove leading to the garage Instead of complying with the agents' commands Agents deployed a stun grenade and Villatoro Santos ended up close enough to the front door that they could pull him out of the home agents allegedly found a Taurus model G2C 9-millimeter handgun near the bed President Donald Trump praised the agencies and authorities involved in the arrest on Truth Social Thursday morning "Just captured a major leader of MS13 Tom HOMAN is a superstar!" Trump shared Trump has blamed the violence and gang growth on lax immigration policies Trump promised an all-out fight against MS-13 Justice Department has intensified its focus on MS-13 which originated as a neighborhood street gang in Los Angeles but grew into a transnational gang based in El Salvador Guatemala and Mexico and thousands of members across the U.S or “cliques.”"MS-13 is one of the most dangerous gangs in our country and we are going to fight until they are completely dismantled," Attorney General Bondi said MS-13 was formed in the 1980s by Salvadoran immigrants in Los Angeles, California. Some members are trained in guerilla warfare and the use of military weapons, according to the Department of Justice the gang expanded to many parts of the country area as one of the hotbeds for MS-13 outside of Los Angeles “There have been a lot of problems up here in Northern Virginia Montgomery County and other places,” Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman said MS-13 has been linked to numerous homicides in the D.C A 2017 homicide allegedly committed by the gang involved a victim found in Wheaton Regional Park who had been stabbed more than a hundred times and had had his heart removed from his chest The gang operates in at least 42 states and D.C. and has about 6,000 to 10,000 members nationwide, according to a 2008 threat assessment by the FBI. Striping work as part of the Powells Creek bridge project DALE CITY — The southbound I-95 general purpose lanes will have lane closures tonight, weather permitting, around mile marker 155 between Cardinal Drive and the Dale City Truck-Only Safety Rest Area South for striping work according to the Virginia Department of Transportation The lane closures along the southbound I-95 general purpose lanes are scheduled to occur as follows: Drivers should expect delays and are advised to use alternate routes The work is part of the I-95 over Powells Creek Bridge Rehabilitation Project which is improving safety and extending the overall life of the northbound and southbound I-95 general purpose lanes bridges over Powells Creek repaired in 1976 and widened in 1981 and 1996 The project includes repairing steel beams and concrete abutments and piers closing deck joints and repainting the bridges the deck of the northbound general purpose lanes bridge is being resurfaced The project is scheduled for completion this summer You can get traffic, work zone and incident information online at 511virginia.org, via the free mobile 511Virginia app or by calling 511 in Virginia anywhere anytime Follow VDOT Northern Virginia on Twitter: @vadotnova Please note that this file is not ADA compliant Federal Court for the Eastern District of Virginia the Dale City man accused of being an 'East Coast leader' of the MS-13 gang Immigration and Customs Enforcement Wednesday only a few hours after a federal judge dismissed the sole criminal charge filed against him the Dale City man accused of being an "East Coast leader" of the MS-13 gang Immigration and Customs Enforcement Wednesday only a few hours after a federal judge dismissed the sole criminal charge filed against him was expected to be released from jail on Wednesday Hilton dismissed an illegal weapons charge stemming from a March 27 raid on the Dale City townhome he shared with his mother he was transferred to ICE custody late Wednesday afternoon a public information officer for the City of Alexandria Adult Detention Center In court hearing earlier Wednesday, Hilton confirmed a magistrate’s decision to dismiss the weapons charge after Villatoro Santos’ attorney appealed to keep Villatoro Santos from being deported without due process Marshals standing behind Villatoro Santos at the defense table said his client would “swiftly” be taken into ICE custody Elsayed wasted no time filing more court motions Wednesday in an effort to keep Villatoro Santos from being sent to his native El Salvador and possibly to the mega-prison known as CECOT an acronym for “Centro de Confinamiento de Terrorismo.”  called a “writ of habeas corpus,” aimed at challenging Villatoro Santos’ ICE detention He later filed an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order as well as an emergency motion to expedite a judge’s ruling on his motion for an emergency temporary restraining order Elsayed also filed a complaint against U.S Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem acting executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations at ICE It’s not clear what the complaint alleges because it is not publicly accessible Supreme Court ruled earlier this month in the Alien Enemies Act case that ICE detainees can only challenge their deportations through habeas corpus petitions that are filed where they are being held Because both timing and location are critical Elsayed likely moved quickly to file his motions while Villatoro Santos was still present in the Eastern District of Virginia A group called “Lawyers for the Rule of Law” filed an amicus brief in the case late Wednesday afternoon An amicus brief is a court filing submitted by a person or group who is not a direct party to a lawsuit but has a significant interest in the outcome The government has not yet responded to Elsayed’s filings During Villatoro Santos’ court hearing Wednesday morning Attorney’s Office’s motion to dismiss his criminal charge alleging that it was being dropped in “bad faith” so the government could deport his client without due process Elsayed referenced the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia a Maryland man whom the government deported to El Salvador without due process only to admit his removal was in error Supreme Court’s order to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S. Elsayed told Hilton that Villatoro Santos has not been served with a notice to appear at a Section 240 immigration hearing – a legal process held to determine whether a person is removable from the U.S He said this is further evidence that the government plans to deport Villatoro Santos without due process instead of engaging in traditional proceedings that would provide Villatoro Santos an opportunity to challenge his deportation Elsayed told Hilton that after prosecutors moved to dismiss the charges Bondi called Villatoro Santos a “terrorist” in the media and said he “will now face the removal process.”  Glenn Youngkin told Fox News that the criminal charge was dropped in Villatoro Santos’s case “so that the person can be deported immediately and get out of this country and go back to prison in El Salvador.”  Elsayed has said he believes Villatoro Santos could be sent to the El Salvador mega-prison known as CECOT Hilton said little during the hearing but stated that an earlier decision by a federal magistrate to dismiss the charge was “not contrary to law” before affirming the dismissal Villatoro Santos had been held at the Alexandria Adult Detention Center since March 27 when he was apprehended on a civil immigration warrant during a pre-dawn raid at his Dale City townhome located in the 3200 block of Chippendale Circle Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel attended the raid and then held a press conference shortly afterward with Youngkin Bondi called Villatoro an “East Coast leader” of MS-13 law enforcement officers found four guns and gun suppressors in Villatoro Santos’ room An immigration official testified in court that Villatoro Santos entered the country illegally when he was 14 to live with his mother in Manassas had permission to live and work in the U.S During court hearings that followed his arrest no information has been revealed in court or in court filings explaining Villatoro Santos’ ties to MS-13 Villatoro Santos has no history of violent criminal charges in Virginia He has previous misdemeanor convictions in Prince William County for possession of marijuana in 2019 and 2020 and for driving an uninsured vehicle and without a license in 2024 Reach Cher Muzyk at cmuzyk@fauquier.com  Want to stay up to date on the best stories out of Prince William County? Sign up for the Prince William Times’ newly revamped daily newsletter, The JAM, online here then skies turning partly cloudy after midnight Some of the four firearms that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials found in a Dale City garage while apprehending Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos on a civil immigration violation After a federal judge granted the prosecutors' request to drop the lone criminal charge against Villatoro Santos on Wednesday his defense attorney fears he will be deported without due process The sole criminal charge filed against Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos the Dale City man accused of being an MS-13 'East Coast leader,' was dismissed in federal court Wednesday during a hearing attended by a federal immigration agent Now his attorney worries his days in the U.S the Dale City man accused of being an MS-13 "East Coast leader," was dismissed in federal court Wednesday during a hearing attended by a federal immigration agent wa will be “swiftly” transferred into the custody of the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a federal judge ruled against him in federal court An ICE agent was present in the courtroom during the hearing Judge Claude M. Hilton confirmed a magistrate’s earlier decision to dismiss the weapons charge filed against Villatoro Santos as a result of a raid on his home last month Within minutes of the conclusion of the April 30 hearing the ICE agent approached the front of the courtroom where two U.S Marshals stood behind Villatoro Santos at the defense table Elsayed said his client would be taken into ICE custody Elsayed filed an emergency petition called a “writ of habeas corpus” shortly after the hearing challenging Villatoro Santos’ ICE detention An ICE spokesperson was not immediately able to confirm that Villatoro Santos was taken into ICE custody after the hearing but said transfers between federal agencies are customary especially if an ICE agent was present at the hearing Attorney’s Office’s motion to dismiss Villatoro Santos’ criminal charge a Maryland man who the government removed from the country without due process only to admit later that his removal was in error Elsayed also told Hilton that Villatoro Santos has not been served with a notice to appear at a Section 240 immigration hearing – a legal process held to determine whether a person is removable from the U.S He said this is further evidence that the government plans to deport Villatoro Santos without due process instead of engaging in traditional deportation proceedings which would provide Villatoro Santos an opportunity to challenge his deportation Elsayed told Hilton that after prosecutors moved to dismiss the charges that U.S Attorney General Pam Bondi called Villatoro Santos a “terrorist” in the media and said he “will now face the removal process.”   Glenn Youngkin told Fox News that the criminal charge was dropped in Villatoro Santos’s case “so that the person can be deported immediately and get out of this country and go back to prison in El Salvador.” Elsayed has said he believed Villatoro Santos could be sent to the El Salvador mega-prison known as CECOT an acronym for “Centro de Confinamiento de Terrorismo.”   The judge said little during the hearing but stated that an earlier decision by a federal magistrate to dismiss the charge was “not contrary to law” before affirming the dismissal During the raid, law enforcement officers found four guns and gun suppressors in Villatoro Santos’ room, leading to the illegal weapons charge. An immigration official testified in court that Villatoro Santos entered the country illegally when he was 14 and During that and other court hearings that followed Villatoro Santos' arrest no information has been revealed in court or in court filings explaining his ties to MS-13 He has previous misdemeanor convictions in Prince William County for possession of marijuana in 2019 and 2020 and for driving an uninsured vehicle and without a license in 2024 Reach Cher Muzyk at cmuzyk@fauquier.com and Evelyn Mejia at emejia@fauquier.com     Police respond to Ashdale Avenue in Dale City after a one-car hit-and-run crash that left two people injured A 29-year-old Dale City woman is facing DUI and felony child neglect charges after the vehicle she was driving struck a parked car and traveled through two yards before coming to rest injuring two people injured including a 10-year-old girl injuring two people including a 10-year-old girl April 26 to the 14700 block of Ashdale Avenue in Dale City to investigate the crash She was later found at her home and was determined to be intoxicated a Prince William County police spokesperson The police investigation determined that Conward’s vehicle left the roadway and struck a parked vehicle before continuing through the two yards were treated at an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Conward was charged with felony child neglect unreasonable refusal and hit and run in connection with the incident Conward remained in law enforcement custody as of Wednesday afternoon ahead of upcoming court hearings The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria Villatoro Santos was facing a charge of possessing firearms by an illegal alien after authorities found four guns in the Dale City townhome he shared with his mother magistrate has not yet granted Siebert’s request to drop the charge against Villatoro Santos He remained incarcerated Wednesday evening at the City of Alexandria’s adult detention center It’s not clear why the prosecutor is seeking to drop the federal criminal charge the prosecutor is asking to dismiss the charge without prejudice which means the charge could be refiled in the future Villatoro Santos was taken into custody by U.S Immigration and Enforcement on a civil immigration warrant for being in the country without legal status during the early morning hours of Thursday Law enforcement also had a federal criminal search warrant for the home which is located in the 3200 block of Chippendale Circle in the Hampton Square community off Cloverdale Road  Court documents describe the home as belonging to Villatoro Santos’ mother A few hours after Villatoro Santos’ arrest, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Gov. Glenn Youngkin and FBI Director Kash Patel held a  press conference  at the FBI building in Manassas to announce the arrest of a “high-ranking” member of the violent Mara  Salvatrucha gang Bondi described Villatoro Santos as MS-13’s “leader of the East Coast” and called him “one of the top three in the entire country.”   a prosecutor presented no evidence regarding why top government officials believe a Dale City man arrested in a high-profile raid last week is a regional leader of MS-13 a transnational gang with tens of thousands of members District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia shed no light on Villatoro Santos’ ties to MS-13 or why he was being called a leader of the gang an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer revealed that one of two gun suppressors seized in the raid on his Dale City home was for a nonlethal A Dale City man described as MS-13's “leader of the East Coast” was taken into custody Thursday on a civil immigration violation and later charged with illegal possession of a gun Prince William County police had been investigating him for months according to the Police Chief Peter Newsham was stopped by border patroland transferred to a juvenile facility for two weeks before being released and sent to live with his mother in Manassas according to court testimony at the preliminary hearing Villatoro Santos was initially given permission to live and work in the U.S He was given special juvenile immigration status which gave him four years to apply for legal status Citizenship and Immigration Services revoked Villatoro Santos’ work authorization in 2023  “for cause,” according to court testimony It’s not clear why his legal status was revoked a prosecutor presented no evidence regarding why top government officials believe a Dale City man arrested in a high-profile raid last week is a regional leader of MS-13 No additional charges were brought against Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos and court testimony revealed that one of the suspected firearm suppressors seized from his home is likely used with a non-lethal airsoft gun Villatoro Santos was taken into custody in the early morning hours of Thursday March 27 on a civil – not criminal – warrant stemming from an immigration violation Law enforcement also had a federal criminal search warrant for the home which is located in the 3200 block of Chippendale Circle in the Hampton Square community off Cloverdale Road Court documents describe the home as belonging to Villatoro Santos’ mother After Villatoro Santos was taken into custody on the civil immigration warrant he was arrested for firearm possession by an illegal alien Police found four guns and two suppressors in the home’s garage which Villatoro Santos indicated was his room After learning one of the suppressors was likely for a toy rifle that shoots BBs – not bullets – the seized items were turned over to the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms for analysis the Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation officer who apprehended Villatoro Santos “I’m hoping the ATF will let me know what’s going on there,” Klepec said in court Tuesday Villatoro Santos has no history of violent criminal charges in Prince William County or Virginia He has previous misdemeanor convictions in Prince William County for possession of marijuana in 2019 and 2020 and for driving an uninsured vehicle and without a license in 2024 A few hours after Villatoro Santos’ arrest, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Gov. Glenn Youngkin and FBI Director Kash Patel held a press conference at the FBI building in Manassas to announce the arrest of a “high-ranking” member of the violent Mara Salvatrucha gang Bondi described Villatoro Santos as MS-13’s “leader of the East Coast” and called him “one of the top three in the entire country.”  While the April 1 court hearing provided no insight into the government’s allegations about Villatoro Santos' connection to MS-13 it did offer insight into his immigration status Villatoro Santos came to the United States illegally in May 2014 when he was 14 He was stopped by border patrol in Texas and was transferred to a juvenile facility for two weeks before being released and sent to live with his mother in Manassas Records show Villatoro Santos was initially given special juvenile immigration status He was later granted deferred status and given permission to work in the U.S which functions like a Social Security number Citizenship and Immigration Services revoked Villatoro Santos’ work authorization in 2023 “for cause,” Klepec said Klepec said he did not know the reason it was revoked officers recovered the expired work authorization and a Salvadoran identification card issued in March 2024 Klepec said Villatoro Santos asked him why he was being arrested and said his immigration case had “closed back in 2022.” Klepec said he told him that he had a “new immigration arrest warrant for him.”  Klepec testified that Villatoro Santos’ immigration case was indeed closed in 2022 because he was informed that “a visa became available” in September 2022 he could apply for it the next day,” Klepec said But Klepec said he found no evidence that Villatoro Santos applied for the visa or any other legal status suggested Villatoro Santos had an opportunity to receive a Green Card and repeatedly asked Klepec whether officers seized a letter from U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services addressed to Villatoro Santos concerning a Green Card application Klepec said he didn’t see any paperwork concerning a Green Card application formally known as a Permanent Resident Card is a document that grants individuals the right to live and work permanently in the United States Villatoro Santos’ home initially came to the attention of law enforcement in August 2024 When Roberts asked Klepec about the burglary he said it was a “local matter” and that “the Prince William County police department was the source of the information.”   the case will next go to a federal grand jury CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misstated Henrry Villatoro Santos' age when he came to the U.S Reach Cher Muzyk at cmuzyk@fauquier.com   An alleged “high-ranking MS-13 gang member” was arrested in Dale City Thursday morning But the man’s name and charges had yet to be released as of midday Federal prosecutors have moved to dismiss the only criminal charge filed against the Dale City man who the Trump administration deemed the “Ea… the Dale City man accused of being an "East Coast leader" of the transnational MS-13 gang at least for now as a result of a judge's decision Thursday to delay the government's effort to speed his deportation Mourners gathered around a makeshift memorial of pictures flowers and candles compiled just outside the yellow police tape surrounding the Dale City home where Miguel Flores were killed in a domestic mass shooting on Monday who pleaded guilty to the crimes on Wednesday was among the four people killed in a domestic mass shooting inside the family's home on Monday A 27-year-old Dale City man pleaded guilty Wednesday to 10 felonies including four first-degree murder charges in one of the most gruesome multiple homicides in Prince William County’s recent history A 27-year-old Dale City man pleaded guilty Wednesday to 10 felonies During a hearing in Prince William County Circuit Court pleaded guilty to murdering three members of his ex-boyfriend’s family: his mother He also pleaded guilty to three gun charges A month before Maine’s case was set for a jury trial Willett accepted the guilty plea and set Maine’s sentencing for Aug Their deaths rocked the family’s Dale City neighborhood and the larger local Peruvian community Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth described the events leading up to the grisly crime for the first time before a courtroom filled with family members and friends Ashworth said seven people lived in the home on Mansfield Court: Kelly Sotelo and her husband Miguel Flores; Kelly Sotelo’s three children: Jimmy Inga Maine and Inga dated for about four years after meeting on a dating app but Maine still rented a bedroom in the home Corrales had recently immigrated from Peru and also rented a room the atmosphere in the house grew tense because Maine made “racist remarks” and kept guns in the home Maine got angry and punched a hole in the wall because Karrie’s birthday party was “too noisy.” The next day Inga texted Maine informing him he needed to move out by the end of October Maine texted back threatening to beat and kill Inga’s mother and stepfather Flores and Inga went to work in the morning while Maine stayed home got the job and worked his first and only shift at Comfort Suites Corralles called his mother in Peru about 1:30 p.m class at Northern Virginia Community College Kamilla couldn’t find her sister Karrie but found her phone and she saw unread messages from family members Kamilla called Inga and told him Maine was “acting strange.” Inga then called Maine When Kelly Sotelo and Flores returned home Kamilla saw Maine exit the bedroom and pull out a handgun and shoot her stepfather and told him Maine had shot their stepfather Maine also called 911 and told police that while he was playing video games an unidentified Hispanic male entered the house and “shot everyone up,” Ashworth said Police entered the home and located three people dead Flores’ body was slumped over in the kitchen; Kelly Sotelo’s body was upstairs behind a door; and Corralles’ body was found downstairs on his bed Police found a blanket rolled up on Maine’s bed She suffered a fatal knife wound to her neck Investigators found a note on Maine’s computer “I should not have killed them,” the note read I did some f------d up s--t,” Ashworth said I thought I was going to feel something.”       Reach Cher Muzyk at cmuzyk@fauquier.com Want to stay up to date on the best stories out of Prince William County? Sign up for the Prince William Times’ newly revamped daily newsletter, The JAM, online here.  A 25-year-old Woodbridge man who was arrested and charged last October in connection with a … Before they were slain in a spasm of gun violence allegedly at the hands of their adult son’… 2025 at 4:28 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Deportation is now being sought for a man accused of being a top MS-13 gang leader during his high-profile arrest in Dale City on March 27 VA — The charge against a man accused of being a top MS-13 gang leader has been dropped Court documents said the federal government now intends to pursue deportation instead of prosecution but a new court hearing could delay that action Court documents noted that Villatoro Santos had his new lawyer appointed after the court-appointed lawyer withdrew The federal government's dismissal request came two hours after the new lawyer was appointed The dismissal of the charge against Villatoro Santos came after Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and other officials announced the arrest on the morning of March 27. Bondi identified Villatoro Santos as the leader of MS-13 on the East Coast An affidavit from an ICE officer providing evidence for the gun possession charge said the FBI had been watching a home on Chippendale Circle in Dale City since Villatoro Santos' mother reported a burglary in August 2024 The FBI saw her son enter and exit the home throughout March 2025 The affidavit said an FBI SWAT team used a stun grenade to arrest Villatoro Santos on March 27 Villatoro Santos's criminal history in Virginia was limited to driving without a license operating a vehicle without insurance and possession of marijuana charges in Prince William County court law enforcement found signs of MS-13 association in a garage bedroom of the home That was the only MS-13 reference in unsealed court documents SEE ALSO: MS-13 Leader Arrest In Prince William Co.: 5 Things To Know Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2025 at 12:36 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A homeowner's death in a house fire in Dale City is under investigation by Prince William County Police VA — One person died in a house fire Thursday morning in Dale City according to Prince William County Fire and Rescue units responded to the 14100 block of Madrigal Drive where a neighbor reported smoke in an adjoining townhouse Firefighters searched the home and found a victim inside The fire department said the victim had died Prince William County Police said the 73-year-old man was the homeowner The man's identity was not released due to next-of-kin notifications There were no other occupants in the house Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire The fire marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire while Prince William Police are investigating the death Police do not initially believe foul play was involved The medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of death Scattered thunderstorms during the evening Federal prosecutors are confirming their intent to deport a Dale City man who was apprehended in a high-profile bust last month and accused by government officials of being an East Coast 'leader' of MS-13 Federal prosecutors are confirming their intent to deport a Dale City man who was apprehended in a high-profile bust last month and accused by government officials of being an East Coast "leader" of MS-13 Last week, a prosecutor with U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert’s office filed a motion asking a magistrate to drop the sole criminal charge filed against Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos a native of El Salvador who crossed the border illegally in 2014 when he was 14 years old Villatoro Santos was apprehended March 27 on a civil immigration warrant and charged with one count of illegally possessing a firearm after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers found four guns in the Dale City townhome he shares with his mother During an initial court hearing on April 1 prosecutors revealed no information about Villatoro Santos’ alleged ties to MS-13 magistrate to drop the weapon charge without prejudice which means it could be refiled in the future government wants to deport Villatoro Santos to a dangerous prison in El Salvador without due process “There is a substantial risk that if this court enters a dismissal order at this time Villatoro Santos may be immediately deported without due process and before he has an opportunity to retain immigration counsel and assert any defenses he may have to removal,” Elsayed wrote in his motion Elsayed said he feared Salvadoran authorities would imprison Villatoro Santos at the notorious mega-prison known as CECOT an acronym for “Centro de Confinamiento de Terrorismo.”   CECOT has “a well-documented history of torture appalling conditions and extreme overcrowding,” Elsayed wrote April 11 arguing the magistrate should dismiss the charge without delay and that the U.S has the right to deport individuals in the U.S without legal status instead of prosecuting them regardless of the charges filed against them Villatoro Santos case will be heard before by judge on Tuesday District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria Elsayed’s motion argued that a delaying the case for 14 days would allow Villatoro Santos time to find an immigration attorney Siebert’s office countered that Villatoro Santos “has already obtained nearly half the 14-day pause he seeks” since the court moved to dismiss the charge on April 9 Supreme Court has warned judges not to allow defendants to be deported without due process In a decision issued after the Trump administration shipped more than 200 alleged gang members to El Salvador including a Maryland man who was in the U.S legally and many others who did not have criminal records Supreme Court held that detainees are entitled to due process before they can be deported under the Alien Enemies Act detainees must file a habeas petition in the federal district court where they’re being held A habeas petition challenges the basis for detention and can be filed by non-citizens Reach Evelyn Mejia at emejia@fauquier.com   Attorney General Pam Bondi announces the arrest Thursday of an alleged leader of the MS-13 gang in Dale City as Gov Photos of a gun supressor found in the Dale City garage where Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials took Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos into custody Thursday An alleged “high-ranking MS-13 gang member” was arrested in Dale City Thursday morning The arrest was announced in a press conference Thursday morning held at the FBI building in Manassas and attended by Gov The Prince William County Police Department participated in the interagency task force that made the arrest Bondi said law enforcement was on the scene of the arrest at 4:30 a.m But the exact location of the arrest has not been released Bondi called the suspect “the leader for the East Coast one of the top three in the entire country” of the MS-13 gang and said he is in the country “illegally” and originally from El Salvador “He will not be living in our country much longer,” Bondi said Prince William County police were involved in the arrest as part of a recently established “Virginia Homeland Security Task Force,” according to Lt “While this was a federally-led take down and arrest our police department assisted and does have a member on the task force who played a significant role in the successful capture of this violent individual,” Perok told county leaders in an email obtained by the Prince William Times and will continue to partner and assist any federal and local law enforcement with the apprehension of anyone sought on a criminal matter,” Perok wrote According to Prince William County Police Department policy local police officers “will not be involved in administrative (civil) immigration enforcement matters (because) immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility.” local police will take part in “criminal investigations and police-related matters which impact our community,” the policy states The task force was established on March 3 and includes federal The goal of the task force is to "combat transnational organized crime and coordinate ongoing immigration enforcement efforts across Virginia,” according to a press release issued by the Eastern District of Virginia U.S Local leaders praised the arrest and said they are awaiting more details and human exploitation across the United States," said Rep “Today’s arrest of a top MS-13 leader is a major win for public safety — and a reminder of the real threats that violent gangs pose to our communities.”  “MS-13 far too long has terrorized communities where it has taken root,” said Board of County Supervisor’s Chair Deshundra Jefferson “I’m hopeful this arrest will allow our community to take a deep sigh of relief."  who represents Dale City on the county board expressed his appreciation for the coordination between the law enforcement agencies “Our residents deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods This incident reminds us of the importance of vigilance collaboration and continued investment in preventative solutions,” Angry said in a statement Reach Cher Muzyk at cmuzyk@fauquier.com  Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content The man's attorney has asked a judge to delay dismissing his case government wants to deport Villatoro Santos to a dangerous prison in El Salvador without due process Email notifications are only sent once a day The future of Fauquier Times now depends on community support Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Life in the Piedmont – Our Daily Newsletter Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account in connection with two stabbings that occurred during domestic disputes over the weekend in Dale City Officers are still looking for one of the suspects involved a 16-year-old boy was stabbed by a 22-year-old family member during a fight at their home in the 14300 block of Southgate Court in Dale City Officers were called to the home at 2:51 a.m April 20 to find that the teen and the older man were involved in a verbal altercation that escalated identified as Derys Alexander Ortiz Urquiza allegedly assaulted and then stabbed the teen with a knife before leaving the area a Prince William County police spokeswoman The teen was treated at an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries Ortiz Urquiza left the scene before police arrived but officers obtained arrest warrants for him for malicious wounding and domestic assault and battery Ortiz Urquiza is described as a Hispanic male who is about 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 165 pounds a 58-year-old woman was struck several times and then stabbed with a knife by a 23-year-old male family member during a dispute at a home in 14700 block of Statler Drive April 20 and arrived to find that the two were involved in a verbal fight that escalated the man struck the woman multiple times before stabbing her with a knife He then pushed another family member who attempted to intervene The man left the residence and encountered responding police officers who attempted to detain him The man allegedly assaulted three officers while being detained Minor and non-life-threatening injuries were reported of the 14300 block of Westway Lane in Woodbridge was arrested and charged with one count of malicious wounding three counts of assault and battery on a law-enforcement officer one count of domestic assault and battery and one count of obstructing justice in connection with the incident Sassin remained in custody as of late Monday night pending an upcoming court hearing Charges against former Glen Dale City Clerk Jane Criswell accused of embezzling city funds and falsifying records were dismissed without prejudice this week — Charges against former Glen Dale City Clerk Jane Criswell Marshall County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Canestraro said the case is not fully closed and the investigation could be reopened "There is no final decision that has been made in the case It's not like she was found not guilty or anything like that She's still innocent until proven guilty we are just waiting on some odds and ends in the investigation before we can move forward," Canestraro said The dismissal was due to a lack of evidence which Canestraro noted is crucial in determining the case's outcome "We will look at the evidence once we have it all in and make a decision from there," he said Canestraro added that a preliminary hearing will not be scheduled until a new complaint is filed "The state trooper who filed it would be the same person that files the charges eventually," he said The investigation began in summer 2022 when Glen Dale Mayor Janet Scott discovered the city's books in "disarray." A Dale City man was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison in connection with charges he received a UPS package containing 20,000 deadly fentanyl pills in March 2023 according to the Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office Police were alerted to a suspicious package at a UPS facility in Springfield and brought in a drug-sniffing K-9 to inspect the package and police opened the package and found 20,000 pills in two separate bags The package was then reassembled and delivered by police to an office in Prince William County where it was accepted by the person to whom it was addressed: Sanda C Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug that is about 100 times stronger than morphine It is a leading cause of fatal overdoses in Virginia and across the U.S Maduakor entered an Alford plea and was sentenced by Prince William County Circuit Court Judge Angela L An Alford plea is a guilty plea in which a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges a prosecutor's evidence would likely be enough to convict them Horan's sentence is “more than five times the high end of the Virginia Sentencing Commission guidelines which do not consider the quantity of Fentanyl at issue,” the release said — Former Glen Dale City Clerk Jane Criswell is facing charges of embezzlement and falsifying city records marking a significant development in a case that has been ongoing since 2022 "I think it feels good that we finally have a handle on this," Mayor Janet Scott said "It will make its way through the court system and we just want to put this behind us and let it move on." Scott assured residents of the city's commitment to transparency and accountability "What I would like to assure the residents is that the city council and I are committed to financial accountability and the welfare of the city For those seeking more information, the city's public records are available on the West Virginia State Auditor's website, wvsao.gov "They're online for any citizen that wants to take a look," Scott added The amount of money allegedly embezzled has not been disclosed Criswell's court date is scheduled for Monday at 10:30 a.m Former Glen Dale City Clerk Jane Criswell made her initial court appearance on Monday facing charges of embezzlement and falsifying city accounts Criswell pleaded not guilty to the charges during the hearing before Magistrate Zach Allman — Former Glen Dale City Clerk Jane Criswell made her initial court appearance on Monday The exact amount allegedly embezzled remains unknown Mayor Janet Scott confirmed that Criswell last served as city clerk in 2022 Criswell's bond has been set at $2,500 Her next court date has yet to be announced 2025 at 10:55 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Prince William County Police investigated gunshot reports and robberies in the eastern part of the county over the holiday weekend VA — Prince William County Police responded to several gunshots and robbery reports in the eastern part of the county over the long holiday weekend The two gunshots reports came from Dale City and Lake Ridge police responded to a home in the 14300 block of Springbrook Ct in Dale City The second gunshot incident was reported around 2:02 a.m on Monday in the 2000 block of Mayflower Drive in Lake Ridge police say the homeowners heard a gunshot and found damage from a round that entered the home police canvassed the neighborhood and found a second home had been struck Other reports from police include two robberies at Potomac Mills officers responded to Potomac Mills at 2700 Potomac Mills Circle to investigate the robbery of a 31-year-old woman The victim had been walking to her car when an unknown man approached and pushed her The suspect stole her cell phone before leaving The suspect was a man with a thin build wearing a red sweatshirt police responded to the New Balance Factory Store at Potomac Mills for a shoplifting employees had confronted a man for concealing merchandise The suspect implied he had a knife and fled with a pair of shoes The suspect was a man in his mid-to-late 20s with a medium build wearing a dark-colored puffy jacket Anyone with information about any incident can contact the Prince William County Police Department tip line at 703-792-7000 or submit tip to pwcva.gov/policetip Murder Investigation – On November 27 at 8:50PM officers responded to 13500 block of Delaney Road in [Dale City] to investigate a domestic dispute The initial caller reported a domestic altercation involving a family member and then stated gun shots were heard when leaving the residence Officers arrived on the scene and located the accused Officers went inside the home and located the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body Officers provided aid until the victim was transported to an area hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries The investigation revealed the accused and victim were in a physical altercation that escalated the accused retrieved a firearm and shot the victim 2025 at 1:39 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}After U.S Attorney General Pam Bondi and other officials announced the arrest of a top MS-13 leader at a Dale City home here's what court documents show about the case VA — After Trump administration officials announced the arrest of a top MS-13 leader unsealed court documents detail the arrest the publicly-available court documents and court hearing had little mention of MS-13 Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and other officials announced the arrest on the morning of March 27. Bondi identified the person as the leader of MS-13 on the East Coast The Associated Press and other media later reported his identity as Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos and said he was served with an administrative immigration warrant The El Salvadoran native faces a possession of a firearm by a prohibited person charge stemming from his arrest Villatoro Santos appeared in Alexandria federal court following his March 27 arrest The last case update on Tuesday was the court issuing a detention order Court documents justifying him remaining in custody before trial cited strong evidence against the defendant a lengthy incarceration sentence if convicted and unknown or unverified background information The court documents said Villatoro Santos is undocumented and is subject to removal or deportation after serving a sentence the case could be heading to a jury trial next Here's what we know about the case from federal court documents and media reports The FBI was doing surveillance on the Dale City home According to an affidavit from an ICE officer providing evidence for the gun possession charge the FBI was watching the home on Chippendale Circle in Dale City since Villatoro Santos' mother reported a burglary in August 2024 The FBI had observed her son entering and exiting the home throughout March 2025 Villatoro Santos had work authorization in between undocumented status The Prince William Times reported the ICE officer's testimony in court about the undocumented status of Villatoro Santos he went to live with his mother in Manassas He received a juvenile status allowing him to seek legal status and he ultimately received a deferred deportation and work authorization While the ICE officer did not indicate any further applications for legal status Villatoro Santos' defense suggested that ICE sent a letter to him about a green card application Villatoro Santos has few signs of criminal history The detention order did not list prior criminal history as a reason for keeping him in custody before trial. Virginia court records only show a possession of marijuana charge in 2018 in Prince William County court A SWAT Team used a stun grenade to arrest Villatoro Santos The affidavit details the March 27 arrest of Villatoro Santos an FBI SWAT team knocked and announced themselves before breaching the front and back doors of the home SWAT team members found Villatoro Santos in an alcove leading to the garage and he ducked behind a wall and did not follow commands to exit Villatoro Santos got close enough to the front tour for law enforcement to take him into custody According to the ACLU, stun grenades explode and cause a bright flashing light and loud noise The ACLU opposes using stun grenades on crowds or individuals citing injuries such as internal injuries from the explosion's shock waves fragments of the object causing blunt or penetrating injuries or burns from close proximity to the device Law enforcement found signs of MS-13 association in a garage bedroom of the home law enforcement recovered what appeared to be a 9-mm handgun reading "made in Brazil" with a serial number present ammunition and two suppressors were also present in the garage bedroom Prince William Times reported that one gun appeared to be a toy BB gun leading the ICE officer to transfer the items to the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms for investigation the CEO of the Red Cross of the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake Region enjoy a moment as technicians prepare equipment for their blood draw Glenn Youngkin (R) marked the grand opening of Prince William County’s second Red Cross Blood Donation Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday expands local blood and platelet donation options previously limited to driving to Fairfax or participating in mobile drives Provided by Prince William County Parks & Recreation Start Your New Year Off Strong: Offer Valid Jan take 20% off membership at Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center or Chinn Aquatics & Fitness Center and receive exclusive access to many amenities including group fitness classes soak in the relaxing hot tub or go for a swim in the natatorium New customers – Get 20% OFF membership at Chinn Aquatics & Fitness Center Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center or BOTH Existing Customers – Lock in your rate at a 20% discount Those who sign up for continuous draft will be locked into the 20% rate or worry about the next sale to receive the 20% discount Learn more. 2024 at 5:40 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A domestic dispute escalated into a shooting that killed a woman in Dale City Wednesday night (Prince William County Police Department)DALE CITY VA — A woman was fatally shot during a domestic dispute Wednesday night in Dale City in the 13500 block of Delaney Road in Woodbridge to a report of a fight involving a relative and the sound of gunshots Officers found the suspect on the scene attempting to leave the home The 20-year-old woman suffering from an upper body gunshot wound was treated at the scene by officers before she was taken to the hospital The victim was identified as Rhemidee Iyeshala Barnes An investigation found that White and Barnes had a physical fight that escalated White was charged with second-degree murder use of a firearm in commission of a felony If you are experiencing domestic violence in Prince William County, call the ACTS Domestic Violence Hotline at 703-221-4951. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or by texting "START" to 88788 The attorney defending Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos the Dale City man deemed the “East Coast leader” of MS-13 has asked a federal magistrate to delay dismissing his case The attorney defending Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos the Dale City man whom the Trump administration deemed the “East Coast leader”of MS-13 has asked a federal magistrate to delay dismissing the case Siebert moved to drop the sole criminal charge pending against Villatoro Santos who was apprehended on March 27 in a high-profile raid in Dale City that was attended by both U.S Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel was taken into custody on a civil immigration warrant and then charged with possessing firearms by an illegal alien after authorities found four guns in the townhome he shared with his mother Glenn Youngkin held a nationally televised press conference at the FBI building in Manassas to announce the arrest of a “high-ranking” member of the violent Mara Salvatrucha gang President Donald Trump and many top government officials touted the arrest on social media Bondi described Villatoro Santos as MS-13’s “leader of the East Coast” and called him “one of the top three in the entire country.”   Defense attorney Muhammad Elsayed replaced Villatoro Santos’ initial defense counsel prosecutors filed the motion to dismiss the criminal charge A federal magistrate has not yet acted on the motion to dismiss and Villatoro Santos remained incarcerated Wednesday evening at the City of Alexandria’s adult detention center Elsayed wrote that he believes “the government now intends to pursue the deportation of Mr Villatoro Santos in lieu of this prosecution.”  He said that if the magistrate signs the order dismissing the case Villatoro Santos will be immediately transferred to the custody of U.S Villatoro Santos may be immediately deported without due process and before he has an opportunity to retain immigration counsel and assert any defenses he may have to removal,” Elsayed wrote an acronym for “Centro de Confinamiento de Terrorismo.”  appalling conditions and extreme overcrowding,” Elsayed wrote It is the same prison to which the Trump administration recently flew 238 Venezuelan migrants who were alleged to be gang members The use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants without due process is currently being challenged in federal court Elsayed asked the magistrate to delay dismissing the case for 14 days to allow Villatoro Santos an opportunity to find an immigration attorney Highlighting top government officials’ public pronouncements that Villatoro Santos is a top leader of MS-13 “the risk of this turning effectively into a life sentence without any due process is very real,” Elsayed wrote the prosecutor who is seeking the dismissal of the charges against Villatoro Santos directed inquiries about the case to a public affairs officer The public affairs officer could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday evening CBS reported that a spokesperson for Bondi when asked why the government was moving to drop the case against Villatoro Sandos responded with a video clip of Bondi saying on March 27 that Villatoro Santos "won't be in this country much longer."  Elsayed said he recognized the “unusual nature” of a defense lawyer asking for a court not to dismiss a case against his client Reach Cher Muzyk at cmuzyk@fauquier.com and Jill Palermo at jpalermo@fauquier.com The Dale City “Lightning” Track Club (DCTC) a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth through the sport of track and field has been named the 2024 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Club of the Year for Zone A (New England The prestigious award was announced at the AAU Junior Olympic games on Saturday 2024.The AAU Club of the Year award recognizes organizations for their community involvement “Being recognized as Club of the Year is the cherry on top of the cake,” said Coach Mike James “This year has been one of tremendous growth for our field athletes We are building something at Dale City Track Club that we are proud of and that our parents and community are supporting I’m grateful that the organization is being recognized for the impact we’re making is just validation and it feels good to know that our work in the community and efforts to build character in our youth doesn’t go unnoticed DCTC has grown to serve over 300 youth athletes annually The club’s programs focus on youth fitness and athletic development DCTC athletes have competed in and won championships at the local DCTC’s winter training program will run from November through March preparing athletes for the spring/summer outdoor track season The organization will also continue to partner with county schools and officials to advocate and grow the sport within the local area For more information about Dale City “Lightning” Track Club, visit dalecitytrack.org