They keep getting arrested, but oddly enough, it’s the police officer who finds himself handcuffed.
This month, a small immigrant teen, described as a punk, unites with other autistic teenagers on Staten Island and continues to evade the law in New York City due to lenient state regulations.
The young individual, who is connected to a minor faction known as Diablos de la 42, a spin-off of the Venezuelan gang Tren de la Gua, has racked up numerous felony arrests over the past three years. However, being underage allows him to roam freely on the streets.
“We’re not talking about small thefts. He’s not stealing gum,” NYPD detective chief Joseph Kenney mentioned in an interview this week. “We’re discussing robbery, felonies, and stabbings, and we can’t really rely on the system to do much.”
According to the chief, there seems to be a lack of results.
This teen, often labeled a gang poster boy, instills fear in others, and is referred to as “The Devil of 42nd Street.” His reign of terror seems to dominate midtown Manhattan.
The 15-year-old has a criminal record featuring over a dozen arrests. Recently, he was taken into custody following an incident involving a disabled teen at Staten Island Mall on May 5th.
It’s surprising, really. Despite multiple arrests for robbery and assault, he had been allowed to wander the streets for months. This has become an unfortunate norm for many immigrant minors who generally know they won’t face serious consequences for their actions.
This month, some members of his gang were flashing signs from within a NYPD precinct and posting photos online while hanging out in Times Square.
Meanwhile, officers were busy investigating an armed robbery that occurred in lower Manhattan, involving suspects aged 15 and 17 who are believed to be affiliated with the gang. They reportedly stole sneakers from another teenager before making their getaway.
The gang, numbered at roughly 40 minors, consists of immigrants from Venezuela and is part of a significant influx of asylum seekers that began affecting the city in 2022.
Officers have apprehended an 11-year-old linked to the group for various assaults and robberies across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, with many of them targeting vulnerable victims, including a 16-year-old autistic boy at the mall.
“It’s disgusting to see these kids still out here,” said the mother of one victim. “They should have been deported long ago. He was so scared I had to keep him home for a week.”
This gang, closely associated with TDA—a violent crew making its mark in the city—has a reputation for recruiting new members from taxpayer-funded immigration shelters.
Both gangs have become notorious for violent robberies, including snatching items from city retailers. Statistics reveal that TDA and Diablo collectively account for over 400 arrests since late April last year.
Most of these crimes fall under the category of assault, data suggest.
“This is not just a kids’ issue; it affects everyone,” Kenny remarked.
Recent changes in Albany have raised the age of criminal liability to 18, which critics argue has contributed to a spike in crime statewide. Enacted in stages in 2017 and 2018, this law now allows young offenders to remain in facilities until they are 21.
Previously, a 16-year-old could be automatically tried in an adult court.
With this change, state lawmakers also implemented measures that largely prevent judges from setting bail in most criminal cases, save for the most violent offenses.
Despite some adjustments made by Governor Kathy Hochul, many crimes still fall outside of bail eligibility.
For New Yorkers, this translates into many migrant gang members being released without bail since their crimes don’t qualify under the current statutes.
For minor immigrants, the consequences are even milder.
These teens are typically released back to their parents with future court dates on the horizon.
