Federal officials reported on Wednesday that four members of the notorious Venezuelan gang Torren de Aragua (TdA) have admitted guilt in connection with the murders of two unarmed Americans in New York City back in May 2024.
The gang members, who are believed to have entered the U.S. illegally, shot and killed 44-year-old Claresa Laquesha Daniels and 36-year-old Justin Lawless in a residential area of the Bronx, injuring a third victim as well, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
Caber “Kiebe” Jaen Martinez, Samuel “Clay” Gonzalez Castro, Efferson “Jefferson” Morillo-Gomez, and Kayneyer “Kayner” Ybarra Mujica pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of murder with a firearm and using a firearm in relation to a violent crime.
Recently, a fifth member of TdA also pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy and carjacking with a firearm, making the total number of convicted TdA defendants rise to eight.
Law enforcement has labeled Torren de Aragua as “one of the most violent gangs on the planet.” Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin stated, “They rape, maim, and kill for sport.” He emphasized the administration’s commitment to targeting and removing gang members from communities under President Trump’s leadership.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton noted that TdA members have unleashed “guns, drugs, sex trafficking, and violence” onto the streets of New York City after crossing the border illegally. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche added that this terrorist organization “has no place and no future in the United States,” assuring that the Justice Department would work to dismantle it.
Originally a prison gang in Venezuela, TdA has expanded into a transnational organization with operations in various cities, including New York. Their illegal activities encompass human smuggling, armed robbery, and trafficking in a drug known as “Tusi,” which is mixed with ketamine. The gang is particularly infamous for its violent sexual trafficking of young women, whom they refer to as “murtadas.”
Women trafficked into the U.S. often find themselves coerced into commercial sex work to repay their smuggling debts. To maintain control over these victims, TdA members threaten and harm their families and frequently pursue women who attempt to escape.
Those who are found guilty may face sentences of up to life in prison.
