Gang Members Plead Guilty to Double Murder in NYC
Members of the Torren de Aragua gang, along with four other undocumented immigrants, have admitted guilt in a double murder case that took place in New York City, which operates under sanctuary policies. This includes three individuals who were released into the U.S. by the current administration.
Recently, four Venezuelan nationals—Keiber Jaen Martinez, Samuel Gonzalez Castro, Efelson Gabriel Morillo-Gomez, and Cainier Ibarra-Mujica—pleaded guilty for their roles in a 2024 shooting in the Bronx that resulted in the deaths of 44-year-old Claresa Daniels and 36-year-old Justin Lawless.
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin expressed relief, stating, “We are grateful that the victims of these heinous acts and their families will finally receive the justice they deserve.”
“All four of these Torren de Aragua gang members entered our country under the Biden administration. Torren de Aragua is one of the most violent gangs on the planet. They rape, maim, and murder for sport. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are working to target and remove gang members from our communities and ensure those who commit crimes in our country are brought to justice.”
Martinez reportedly crossed the U.S.-Mexico border into Texas in 2023 and received a final deportation order from a federal judge on September 5, 2024.
Conversely, Castro, Morillo-Gomez, and Ibarra-Mujica entered through the southern border and were released into the U.S. due to the administration’s catch-and-release policy.
A deportation order for Castro was issued in November 2024 and for Ibarra-Mujica in June 2024.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche noted, “Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors, these four Torren de Aragua gang members will be brought to justice for their roles in the callous and senseless murders of two Americans and the attempted murder of a third person in the Bronx two years ago.”
Blanche, reflecting on his past experiences as a federal prosecutor focusing on violent crimes in the Bronx, emphasized, “Tren de Aragua is a terrorist organization with no place or future in the United States, and the Department of Justice will not stop until we eradicate, dismantle, and destroy them.”
