DOJ Brings First Terrorism Charges Against Alleged Venezuelan Gang Member

The landmark case is the primary time the Justice Division has indicted an alleged member of the Tren de Aragua gang on terrorism prices.

The Division of Justice added terrorism-related prices to the felony case in opposition to an alleged high-ranking member of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang on April 23.

In a newly unsealed indictment in opposition to Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, the Justice Division is pursuing terrorism prices in opposition to an alleged member of the infamous Tren de Aragua gang for the primary time.

The State Division designated the Venezuelan gang as a overseas terrorist group in February, and President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act in March, proclaiming members of the gang as “liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and eliminated as Alien Enemies” and “chargeable with precise hostility in opposition to america.”

Martinez Flores, 24, also called “Chuqui,” was charged with conspiring to offer and offering materials help to a chosen overseas terrorist group, based on his indictment, filed in federal courtroom within the Southern District of Texas. He was additionally charged with conspiracy and distribution of cocaine in Colombia, supposed for distribution in america.

Colombian authorities arrested Martinez Flores in Colombia on March 31 after america requested a provisional warrant for his arrest. He’s nonetheless in Colombian custody “pending additional proceedings.”

A federal grand jury in Houston returned Martinez Flores’s superseding indictment on April 8. Federal authorities accuse him of being a “high-ranking” chief of Tren de Aragua in Bogota, Colombia, and in addition “a part of the internal circle of senior [gang] management.”

Martinez Flores allegedly instigated the supply of roughly 5 kilograms or extra of cocaine for worldwide distribution to fund Tren de Aragua’s “felony targets,” based on the indictment.

He faces a most penalty of life in jail and a $10 million high quality if convicted.

Lawyer data for Martinez Flores was not instantly obtainable.

“[Tren de Aragaua] will not be a avenue gang—it’s a extremely structured terrorist group that put down roots in our nation in the course of the prior administration,” Lawyer Common Pamela Bondi mentioned in a press release.

“At present’s prices signify an inflection level in how this Division of Justice will prosecute and finally dismantle this evil group, which has destroyed American households and poisoned our communities.”

On Monday, the Justice Division charged 27 alleged members and associates of Tren de Aragua with racketeering conspiracy, intercourse trafficking conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, theft, and firearms offenses.

Appearing U.S. Lawyer Matthew Podolsky for the Southern District of New York described the group’s felony allegations.

“At present, we’ve got filed prices in opposition to 27 alleged members, former members, and associates of Tren de Aragua, for committing murders and shootings, forcing younger ladies trafficked from Venezuela into industrial intercourse work, robbing and extorting small companies, and promoting ‘tusi,’ a pink powdery drug that has develop into their calling card,” Podolsky mentioned in a press release.

Trump’s efforts to make use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged gang members have spurred a number of courtroom battles. Final week, the Supreme Court docket briefly blocked the Trump administration from deporting an unspecified variety of Venezuelan males presently in immigration custody who’re alleged to be members of Tren de Aragua.

Matthew Vadum contributed to this report.