The Justice Department on Monday filed multiple federal charges against 27 members of the violent Tren de Aragua gang. The charges include racketeering, narcotics, sex trafficking, robbery, and firearms offenses. DOJ officials said in a press release that this marks the first time RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) charges have been filed against the Venezuelan prison gang. DOJ officials unsealed the indictments on Monday, as well.
Matthew Podolsky, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in the release:Â
Today, we have filed charges against 27 alleged members, former members, and associates of Tren de Aragua, for committing murders and shootings, forcing young women trafficked from Venezuela into commercial sex work, robbing and extorting small businesses, and selling ‘tusi,’ a pink powdery drug that has become their calling card. Today’s Indictments make clear that this Office will work tirelessly to keep the law-abiding residents of New York City safe, and hold accountable those who bring violence to our streets.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi also said in a written statement:
As alleged, Tren de Aragua is not just a street gang – it is a highly structured terrorist organization that has destroyed American families with brutal violence, engaged in human trafficking, and spread deadly drugs through our communities. Today’s indictments and arrests span three states and will devastate TdA’s infrastructure as we work to completely dismantle and purge this organization from our country.
The DOJ’s announcement comes as the Trump administration continues to battle left-wing activist federal district judges who have been hellbent on derailing Trump’s campaign promise to “mass deport” illegal aliens — later softened to “the worst of worst,” whom even multiple Democrat members of Congress agreed, even if begrudgingly, should be deported.Â
Of the 12 million or more illegal aliens virtually invited into the country by former President Joe Biden and the Democrat Party, members of Tren de Aragua stand alone at the top of the “worst of the worst” list.
