Kash Patel’s FBI Hits the Ground Running with Major Wins in First Month

Kash Patel, in his first month as FBI director, has wasted no time making his mark by targeting violent crime, gang activity, and drug trafficking. Despite the high stakes, Patel has managed to sidestep the political controversies that often come with his role, earning praise from Republican lawmakers for his decisive leadership and transparency.

Patel’s approach is clearly action-oriented. Under his leadership, the FBI has already achieved several headline-grabbing victories. Here are the highlights:

1. Arrest of Top MS-13 Leader
The FBI recently arrested Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, a 24-year-old Salvadoran national and one of the top U.S.-based leaders of the notorious MS-13 gang. Santos was apprehended in Virginia and charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Both Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi observed the operation firsthand, with Bondi lauding the team for their "clean, safe operation" that removed "one of the worst of the worst" from the streets.

2. Cracking the FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted
In just over a month, the FBI has captured three fugitives from its Top 10 Most Wanted list, including Arnoldo Jimenez, accused of murdering his wife; Donald Eugene Fields II, facing child sex trafficking charges; and MS-13 leader Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, charged with a laundry list of crimes including terrorism and drug trafficking. Roman-Bardales had evaded capture for nearly three years before being arrested in Mexico and extradited to the U.S.

3. Tackling Drug Cartels in Texas
The FBI successfully dismantled a narcotics trafficking ring in Lubbock, Texas, arresting 22 individuals with ties to violent Mexican drug cartels. Patel praised the operation as a step toward "safer streets for American families" and emphasized that this is just the beginning of his crackdown on drug-related crime.

4. Fighting Domestic Vandalism
In a move Patel described as targeting "domestic terrorism," the FBI has charged individuals involved in a series of attacks on Tesla dealerships and vehicles. The arrests include a Las Vegas man accused of setting fires and shooting at Tesla cars while spray-painting anti-Trump messages. Bondi warned that such acts of violence would be prosecuted with the "full force of law."

5. Disrupting a Hamas Cryptocurrency Scheme
The FBI’s Cyber and Counterterrorism Divisions scored a major win by disrupting a cryptocurrency laundering scheme used by Hamas to funnel over $1.5 million in donations since October 2024. The operation seized $201,000 in assets and marked a significant step in combating the terrorist group’s financial networks.

These early victories not only highlight Patel’s effectiveness but also aim to rebuild trust in the FBI, which has faced accusations of partisanship in recent years. FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson praised Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino for fostering transparency and delivering results. As Patel himself said, "When you let good cops be good cops, this is what happens."