PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Federal authorities charged 27 individuals associated with the Tren de Aragua gang and splinter group Anti-Tren with racketeering. They are accused of engaging in criminal activities such as murder plots, extortion, and sex trafficking in New York City.
👥 Who’s Involved: The indictment includes alleged members Jarwin Valero-Calderon, Samuel Gonzalez Castro, Eferson Morillo-Gomez, and Anderson Smith Zambrano-Pacheco, among others.
📍 Where & When: The indictments were announced in Manhattan federal court on Monday. The criminal acts reportedly took place in areas such as the Bronx and Prospect Avenue, with incidents dating back several months.
💬 Key Quote: Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch referred to Tren de Aragua as “one of the most dangerous gangs in the country” and praised the law enforcement efforts to dismantle their operations in New York City.
⚠️ Impact: Those charged face potential life sentences under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act, previously utilized to dismantle organized crime syndicates like the Mafia.
IN FULL:
Federal authorities have filed racketeering charges against 27 suspected members of a gang network linked to Tren de Aragua and rival splinter group Anti-Tren. These charges represent the first instance of the U.S. government employing the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act—a tool used in past organized crime cases such as those against Mafia families—to target the group, with the Trump administration pushing a much more robust line against migrant crime than the former Biden-Harris government.
The indictment involves allegations of murder plots, extortion, and the sex trafficking of young women in the New York City area. The alleged criminal activities reportedly occurred over several months in locations such as the Bronx, including a notable incident at a Prospect Avenue apartment. According to court documents, members like Jarwin Valero-Calderon and Anderson Smith Zambrano-Pacheco were involved in threats and acts of violence to maintain control over these areas.
The indictment details a specific event where suspects Samuel Gonzalez Castro and Eferson Morillo-Gomez allegedly threatened attendees of a party near the Bronx apartment with violence, underscoring the level of intimidation exercised by the gang.
Authorities also claim that young women trafficked into the United States by these gangs were subjected to serious harm or threats should they attempt to escape. This element of the case highlights grave concerns regarding human trafficking related to the group’s activities.
The charges carry potentially severe penalties. If convicted, the accused face sentences of up to life imprisonment.