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Nine suspected members of the violent Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) were charged following a violent December home invasion, kidnapping and robbery in Aurora, Colorado.
The apartment complex gained widespread national media attention over claims it had been taken over by the Venezuelan gang earlier this year.
The Aurora, Colorado Police Department announced the nine arrests on Monday in the armed home invasion and kidnapping that left two victims seriously injured.
The nine suspects were identified as:
- Andres Alexander Liendo-Padilla, 26
- Javier Alexander Alvarado Parada, 24
- Jesus Alberto Alejos Escalona, 22
- Junior Reyes-Barrios, 28
- Barbara Sivle Medina-Arcaya, 29
- Donarkys Teresa Suarez-Quesada, 31
- Luigi Javier Soto-Sucre, 26
- Niefred Jose Serpa-Acosta, 20
- Jengrinso Elias Loreto-Petit, 26
The remaining 16 suspects were being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The additional seven suspects not yet charged were in ICE custody and remained under investigation, police said.
Aurora Police Department Chief Todd Chamberlain speaks to the media during a press conference in Aurora, Colorado on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. Chief Chamberlain told reporters than an overnight home invasion resulting in 14 arrests is believed to be a “gang incident.” (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
“I will say without question, in my opinion, that this is TdA activity. Some of these individuals have been identified as TdA gang members,” Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain said at the start of the investigation. “It’s something that we are working very close with our partners in HSI [Homeland Security Investigations] and DHS [Homeland Security] to establish their relationship with gangs.”
Chamberlain said authorities have little way of confirming that a suspect is a member of TdA since gang members do not typically broadcast their affiliation.
“It is a real challenge to try to say, ‘Hey, 100%, you are a gang member,’” he said. “But when you look at the circumstances of this, when you look at the events of this, when you look at the individuals involved in this, when you look at the veracity and the violence involved in this, again, it is not a big step for me to say that they are TdA gang members,” he said
According to Chamberlain, this was not an isolated incident. He said the TdA members and their affiliates have regularly mistreated the couple and were extorting them for $500 every two weeks. He believes the couple were not the only victims being intimidated and extorted by the gang members.
Aurora Police prepare to search in carrries supplies given her by a relief worker Aurora, Colorado on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. The dwellings were the scene of a reported home invasion overnight. (Fox News Digital) (Fox News Digital)
The investigation into the Dec. 17, 2024, kidnapping is active and ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
