U.S. Sanctions Venezuelan Actress with Alleged Terrorist Links
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced new sanctions on Wednesday against Jimena Romina Araya Navarro, a Venezuelan actress connected to the terrorist group Torren de Aragua (TdA).
Araya, who is known by her stage name Rosita, is said to be part of a network in the entertainment industry that supports TdA. Reports suggest she is in a romantic relationship with Hector “The Child” Guerrero, the leader of TdA, and she has previously dated other criminals in Venezuela who met untimely ends.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent commented, “Under President Trump, brutal terrorist cartels can no longer operate with impunity across our borders. The drug trafficking and human smuggling operations of the Tren de Aragua network have long been a serious threat to our country.” He further emphasized the commitment to keep these individuals out of the U.S. and the global financial system to protect American citizens.
At 42 years old, Araya has had a diverse career as an actress, model, and DJ. She began as a model in the early 2000s, later branching into Venezuelan telenovelas, and eventually landed a role in the 2005 Telemundo series El cuerpo del deseo (“Desire Body”). Besides acting, she has featured in various films and comedy shows, which sometimes contain adult content, and has amassed quite a following on Instagram, with over 3.5 million followers.
Araya first rose to prominence in Venezuela when, in 2012, she was accused of assisting Guerrero in his escape from Tocolon prison. Although she was released on bail, the incident negatively impacted her public image and television career, prompting her to pivot to a DJ career in 2017.
Guerrero was recaptured in 2013 and returned to Tocolon, which has since become a stronghold for Torren de Aragua, featuring a zoo, baseball stadium, and other amenities. Presently, Guerrero’s location is unknown, although Colombian law enforcement arrested alleged associates in 2023.
OFAC also detailed that Araya’s performances in nightclubs in Colombia contribute financially to TdA leadership. Notably, she performs at Maiquetia VIP Bar, owned by her former bodyguard and manager, Eric Manuel Randaeta Hernandez. Additionally, she is linked to a Venezuelan company known as Global Import Solutions SA.
In a recent crackdown, Colombian authorities detained Randaeta, associating him with the finances of Torren de Aragua. Details emerged that he organized events featuring international artists to funnel illicit funds for the organization.
Beyond her connection with Guerrero, Araya has a history with notorious figures, including Carlos Rafael Galíndez, also known as “Carlos Breaker,” who was gruesomely murdered in 2015, and Ruidig “Dead Face” Ochoa, who died under violent circumstances in 2014.
Notably, Ochoa had a past marred by criminal activity from a young age, spending time in Caracas prisons. Despite media claims, he was not officially linked to Torren de Aragua, though he gained prominence within Venezuela’s criminal circles during his imprisonment.
Given her past relationships, Araya earned the title “Black Widow of Aragua” in 2015 from Venezuelan entertainment outlets. Recently, the Mexican Treasury Secretariat acknowledged several individuals, including a “Venezuelan public figure tied to the entertainment industry,” presumably referencing Araya, in their sanctions.
The Secretariat is working with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to track her activities and potentially blacklist her in Mexico.
