First on FOX: The Department of Justice is charging high-ranking members of Tren de Aragua for terrorism and international drug distribution fees. This is the first time the US government will use terrorist fees to prosecute violent gang members.
The indictment for the five-count replacement was sealed Wednesday, first won by Fox News Digital, and was charged a claim also known as 24-year-old Jose Enrique Martinez Flores (Chukey) to conspiracy to provide and provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations.
The Venezuelan government uses Tren de Lagua as a proxy to undermine public safety in the US, FBI ratings found
Flores is said to be a high-ranking member of Tren de Aragua, who is said to be the boss of the Plaza in Bogota, Colombia. He is said to be part of the inner circle of senior leaders at Tren de Aragua, Fox News Digital learned.
Flores was also charged with conspiracy and distribution of Colombian cocaine for distribution in the United States.
US Attorney General Pam Bondy announced the arrest of gang members involved in four murders in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Friday, April 4, 2025 (AP Photo/Maltara Bandier)
“TDA is not a street gang. It is a highly structured terrorist organization that has roots in our country during its previous administration,” Attorney General Pam Bondy told Fox News Digital. “Today’s charges represent an inflection point in the way this Department of Justice prosecutes and ultimately dismantles this evil organisation.
FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital that Tren de Aragua is “the violent arm of the Maduro regime operating within our borders.”
“These fees make them conflict as cross-border threats using all the tools available,” Patel told Fox News Digital. “From drug trafficking and human smuggling to brutal violence, this group has disrupted the American community.”
Patel added: “Today’s indictment is an important step towards dismantling the network and holding members accountable.”
Colombian authorities arrested Flores in Colombia on March 30th.
The Trump administration’s State Department designated Tren de Aragua on February 20th as a foreign terrorist organization and a specially designated global terrorist.
FBI Director Kash Patel joined the right of National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard on Tuesday, March 25th, as the Senate Intelligence Committee holds a global threat hearing.
“This is the first time DOJ has used terrorist charges to indict TDA members,” a DOJ official told Fox News Digital. “President Trump’s designation of foreign terrorist organizations means there is a more complete suite of legal options to use for these groups.”
The indictment comes after the Trump administration filed a first assault charge in New York on Tuesday against members of Tren de Aragua and their associates, also known as the Rico accusation, which involves committing murder, sex trafficking, assault and drug treatment.
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The incident was part of Operation Takeback America, which he described as “a national initiative to fight back the Department of Justice’s complete resources to fight back against illegal immigration violations, achieve complete exclusion of cartels and cross-border criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect communities from perpetrators of violent crime.”
The charges filed against 27 suspected people, both current and former Tren de Aragua, include human smuggling, sex trafficking and murder.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said 21 of the 27 gang members and peers are currently in federal custody. The statement said 16 people were already federal detectives, immigrants or state custody, and five people had been arrested in the past few days.
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The indictment also comes after FOX News Digital reported exclusively that the FBI “probably encourages” Venezuelan government officials to “promote” and “promote” the migration of violent gang Tren de Lagua members from Venezuela to the United States, and advance the Maduro administration’s purpose to undermine public safety in the United States.
Brooksingman is a political correspondent and reporter for Fox News Digital, Fox News Channel and Fox Business.
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