Members of a violent gang that originated in Venezuela have been operating in the D.C. area, as confirmed by WJLA.
The gang, known as TdA or Tren de Aragua, traces its origins back to the Venezuelan state of Aragua. It is rumored that the gang had such influence that it even managed to establish restaurants and a swimming pool within the confines of a prison it controlled. In fact, some claim that TdA holds more power in Venezuela than the actual police force.
Many Venezuelans have migrated to the United States to escape difficult living conditions under socialist President Nicolas Maduro. In addition to this, alleged members of TdA have also made their way into the D.C. area. These individuals have been accused of engaging in violent activities in other parts of the country. On Tuesday, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis confirmed that his department has arrested several suspected members of the gang in the past.
“They weren’t just engaging in typical gang activities such as extortion, assault, and robberies; they were focused on theft,” Davis explained. “So far, we haven’t observed any instances of violence associated with them, and our goal is to maintain that peaceful situation.”
Earlier this week, the New York Post revealed that it had acquired a memo that served as a cautionary notice to police and homeland security officials in Virginia regarding TdA.
On August 6, 2023, Fairfax County police apprehended three individuals believed to be associated with the gang. The suspects were identified as 22-year-old Rogelio Noriega Solorzano, 24-year-old Williams Lucena Martinez, and 24-year-old Kevin Alvarez Alvarado, according to WJLA.
According to court records in Fairfax County, the individuals are facing multiple charges, with grand larceny being the most severe offense. It is alleged that they were apprehended by the police while in possession of over $9,000 worth of stolen merchandise found in their vehicle.
According to court records, the men traveled from New York, where they had prior charges related to theft. It seems that all three individuals were granted bail in Virginia, but failed to appear in court or violated their pretrial release conditions. As a result, all three were subsequently labeled as fugitives.
According to a memo obtained by the New York Post, the Fairfax County police stated that they had only arrested the suspected members of the TdA gang, marking their first interaction with them. It was noted in the memo that all three men had tattoos that were consistent with the TdA gang.
The memo also highlights the exploitation of Venezuelan immigrants who are being forced into labor in an area referred to as “Northwest Virginia.” It suggests that this exploitation may be linked to the activities of the TdA gang.
According to the memo, individuals belonging to the gang reside in Washington D.C. Furthermore, the memo highlights that members of TdA are involved in various fraudulent and theft activities, often remitting the proceeds to South America.