Federal authorities have filed sweeping RICO charges against 27 members and associates of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, accusing them of a violent campaign of murder, sex trafficking, and drug crimes. This marks the first time the group has been prosecuted under anti-racketeering laws in the U.S.
Key Facts:
- Federal RICO charges were filed against 27 alleged members and associates of Tren de Aragua in New York.
- Crimes include sex trafficking, murder, extortion, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses.
- The group reportedly trafficked Venezuelan women into the U.S. and Peru for forced prostitution.
- The case is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a national DOJ initiative targeting cartels and migrant gangs.
- 21 of the suspects are already in federal custody; charges could result in multiple life sentences.
The Rest of The Story:
The charges were filed in two indictments, targeting both active Tren de Aragua members and a splinter group called Anti-Tren.
The DOJ alleges these groups engaged in brutal crimes across state lines, including kidnapping and sex slavery, often using violence to silence victims or force their compliance.
Among the worst offenses were the trafficking and abuse of Venezuelan women known as “multadas,” who were smuggled into the U.S. and held in bondage through threats and assault.
The gangs also sold “tusi,” a synthetic drug, and extorted small businesses while operating illegal gun networks.
Officials say these charges aim to dismantle a dangerous and growing network.
The case was supported by Joint Task Force Vulcan, which was originally formed to combat MS-13 and has now expanded its focus to include other violent migrant gangs like Tren de Aragua.
27 Members or Associates of Tren de Aragua Charged with Racketeering, Narcotics, Sex Trafficking, Robbery and Firearms offenses
First RICO Charges Against TdA Members and Associates
🔗: https://t.co/EhhAFEBnUz pic.twitter.com/IjLBMq1ipz
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) April 22, 2025
Commentary:
This is exactly the kind of decisive action Americans have been demanding for years.
The Trump administration’s tough stance on immigration and law enforcement is finally yielding tangible results.
The prosecution of Tren de Aragua under RICO sends a powerful message: the U.S. will not be a safe haven for transnational gangs.
The administration rightly labeled TdA a foreign terrorist group—because that’s what they are.
These are not misunderstood migrants seeking opportunity; they are hardened criminals who have trafficked women, pumped drugs into our neighborhoods, and carried out horrific violence on U.S. soil.
It’s astonishing that the same liberal factions who oppose deportations and sanctuary city crackdowns have remained largely silent on the presence of gangs like these in our communities.
In fact, they have actively tried to obstruct ICE and local police from arresting and removing such criminals.
This is the cost of open borders and weak enforcement: innocent lives shattered, neighborhoods terrorized, and criminals empowered.
It shouldn’t take RICO charges to wake people up, but thankfully, the DOJ is stepping up where others have failed.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky deserve credit for coordinating such a sweeping and aggressive legal campaign.
These charges are just the beginning of what must become a broader purge of violent foreign gangs operating within the U.S.
The Bottom Line:
The federal government has taken a major step in dismantling Tren de Aragua, one of the most violent migrant gangs now operating inside the U.S.
With 27 suspects charged and most already in custody, this is a win for law enforcement and public safety.
The Trump administration’s efforts to identify, target, and remove violent foreign criminals are proving effective—and necessary—for the safety of American families.
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