A man who was captured on surveillance video entering an apartment in Colorado with several armed people recently admitted to police that he is a member of a gang called Tren de Aragua, police reported. New York Post Report.
A video that went viral in August showed a group of five men, four of whom were armed with firearms, banging on the door of a home at the Edge at Raleigh apartment complex in Aurora, The Blaze News previously reported.
Former and local residents have warned that TDA gang members could take over the properties after Venezuelan nationals began moving in. TDA members have reportedly expanded their operations to other apartment complexes in the Aurora area.
Three men were arrested in connection with the August video, and one of them confessed to being a member of the TDA gang, law enforcement sources told The Post.
The three other men seen in the video have yet to be identified.
During questioning with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, Niefred Serpa Acosta, 20, allegedly admitted to being a member of the TDA. Sources also told The Post that Serpa Acosta has a crown tattoo, a symbol commonly associated with gang gangs.
Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain maintained that the police investigation into the incident uncovered no gang ties.
“There are a lot of limitations, a lot of rules, a lot of regulations when it comes to identifying someone as a member of a particular gang or as affiliated with a gang,” Chamberlain said. “A lot of these individuals that we're talking about come from countries that don't have strong ties to the United States, they come from countries that don't have databases to share.”
All three suspects have lengthy criminal records in the state, according to sources.
KCNC TV As previously reported, the men were also involved in a fatal shooting about 10 minutes after the surveillance footage was captured.
At this time, there is no certainty that the other two suspects arrested, Anderson Zambrano Pacheco, 25, and Naudi Lopez Fernandez, 21, are affiliated with the gang.
Sources told The Post that Zambrano Pacheco and Lopez Fernandez entered the United States illegally but were quickly released by border officials. They have been arrested multiple times during their stay in the country.
Acosta has been arrested at least three times on theft charges, including one for resisting arrest and obstruction of justice, according to The Washington Post's sources. He is currently in ICE custody.
The Aurora Police Department and ICE did not respond to requests for comment from The Washington Post.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censorship and sign up for our newsletter to receive stories like this directly to your inbox. Register here!
