Colorado authorities have reportedly agreed to drop all charges against the landlord of an Aurora apartment complex that was at the center of a violent takeover dispute by Venezuelan gangs.
In the records obtained The Denver Gazette The agreement between the city and Norm Partners details that city officials agreed to drop dozens of charges against the owners of the Aspen Grove Apartments for failing to maintain the property.
The charges against the landlord also stem from another of his properties, which was the subject of a viral video showing members of the violent Venezuelan migrant gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) using heavy weaponry to break down the door and take over the apartment.
The agreement states that in exchange for dropping the charges, Baumgarten waived his right to a speedy trial and Norm Partners LLC agreed to sell or rent the property and pay up to $60,000 for the costs of cleaning up and securing the complex, among other things. 9News reported.
ICE confirms Aurora, Colorado gang members are in the U.S. illegally, Biden administration to release
A group of alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang took over an apartment in Aurora, Colorado, and demanded rent in exchange for “protection.” (Edward Romero)
Baumgarten's company also blamed the TdA gang takeover for the deterioration of the Aspen Grove apartments to the point that they were uninhabitable.
One investor told The Denver Post that police have known about the gang problem for nearly a year.
In a letter obtained by The Denver Gazette, the investors say the situation had gotten so out of hand that they sought help from local authorities to remove the TdA members, who their lawyers claim have taken “coercive control” of the property.
The property's landlord also reportedly inquired about hiring off-duty police officers to provide security for the property, but the Aurora Police Department reportedly declined the request.
Alleged takeover of Aurora, Colorado apartment by Venezuelan gang reportedly began in 2023
According to a statement provided to Fox News by ICE, four Venezuelan nationals were identified as being in the United States illegally. (Eduardo Romero, Aurora Police Department)
“He was told they did not have enough personnel to adequately secure all of his properties,” Aurora police spokesman Joe Moylan told the Gazette in a statement.
Republican Rep. Greg Lopez of Colorado has called on the Biden administration to crack down on illegal immigrants who are involved with gangs in the United States, and last week introduced a new bill to combat immigrant gangs.
If passed, the bill would require the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to issue detention orders for immigrants identified by law enforcement as having gang affiliations.
It's one of several bills introduced by House Republicans as reports of crimes committed by illegal immigrants mount in cities and towns across the country.
“Under your leadership, the United States has lost control of our southern border,” Lopez said in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday, urging him to “immediately issue directives” to local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices “to aggressively arrest, detain, and deport members of TdA and other known foreign criminal organizations located in Colorado,” with a particular focus on areas such as the Denver suburb of Aurora.
Police say members of the Tren de Aragua gang have been arrested in Aurora, Colorado, in connection with an apartment takeover.
Former Congressman and current Aurora, Colorado Mayor Mike Coffman appeared on America Report on Thursday to give the public an update on Venezuelan gangs in his city. (Edward Romero, Getty Images, Daniel Jurinski)
“There are millions of cases every year, and criminal organisations, including Tren de Aragua, are taking advantage of the situation and wreaking havoc on our communities.”
Undocumented immigrants have been charged in several high-profile murder cases in the United States this year, including those of Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nangaray.
Federal authorities believe TdA is active in the Denver metropolitan area, terrorizing several apartment complexes in the city and nearby suburbs. But local politicians say the “hysteria” surrounding concerns about TdA is just a “reaction” to the investigation. Venezuelan gang members The apartment occupation was “exaggerated” by the media.
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Aurora police officials also denied that there was a gang takeover.
“We've been talking to residents here and learning from them about what's going on, and there's clearly a different situation,” Aurora Police Interim Chief Heather Morris said in a Facebook video. USA Today“I'm not saying there aren't gang members living in this area.”
Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
