A federal grand jury in Houston has unsealed a six-count second superseding indictment charging four Venezuelan nationals, including alleged senior leaders of Tren de Aragua (TdA), with terrorism and international drug distribution. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas.
The indictment includes charges against Yohan Jose Romero (also known as Johan Petrica), 48, and Juan Gabriel Rivas Nunez (also known as Juancho), 44, for conspiring to provide and providing material support to TdA, which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization. Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano (El Viejo), 37, and Jose Enrique Martinez Flores (Chuqui), 24, are also charged in these counts. Mosquera Serrano and Martinez Flores face additional charges related to conspiracy and distribution of cocaine intended for the United States.
“Tren de Aragua poses a direct threat to our national security, to our communities, and to our American way of life,” said Ganjei. “These defendants allegedly conspired to support a highly-structured foreign terrorist organization by smuggling bulk quantities of cocaine across our southern border and funneling the proceeds back to their fellow terrorists in Venezuela. The Southern District of Texas will scour the Earth to find and prosecute narco-terrorists, wherever they may hide. The American people have demanded nothing less than the total elimination of foreign terror groups like TdA, and Operation Take Back America will deliver.”
Christopher Eason, Co-Director of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), commented on the significance of the charges: “TdA grew from a prison gang to a transnational criminal organization to a foreign terrorist organization. Gold and drug trafficking, and violence and extortion to support TdA’s terrorist activities will not be tolerated. The charges unsealed today against TdA members and, specifically, some of the highest leaders of TdA, is directly in line with JTFV’s mission: a collaborative, whole of government effort to destroy TdA. We are grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to investigate and bring these important charges.”
Court records state that Jose Romero is allegedly one of TdA’s founders with command over all criminal operations such as gold smuggling, narcotics trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, murder, prostitution rings, robberies, bank burglaries and money laundering across several countries including Colombia and Central America into the United States. Mosquera Serrano is described as overseeing operations across Colombia through North America.
According to allegations in court documents, Romero exercised authority over TdA’s expansion throughout the Western Hemisphere while collecting fees called “causa” from lower-level members or others operating under his control; nonpayment reportedly resulted in threats or violence.
As outlined in official statements from law enforcement agencies involved in this case:
“Federal charges keep coming for alleged TdA leaders regardless of where they are,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of FBI Houston Field Office. “Just as the Venezuelan foreign terrorist organization is relentless in sowing violence... so are efforts ...to make our neighborhoods peaceful.”
“The Drug Enforcement Administration is unwavering in its mission...” added Special Agent Eugene L. Crouch from DEA Andean Division.
On February 20th this year,the Department of State officially designated Tren de Aragua as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist group.
Colombian authorities arrested Martinez Flores on March 31 pursuant to an arrest warrant requested by U.S., while Mosquera Serrano remains on FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List alongside fugitives Romero and Rivas Nunez.
The Department offers rewards up $4 million for information leading to Romero's arrest/conviction; up $5 million for Mosquera Serrano.
All four men face multiple counts including providing material support/personnel/services; two also face international drug distribution conspiracy involving five kilograms or more cocaine—potential penalties include life imprisonment plus fines up $10 million if convicted.
This investigation was led by FBI & DEA with assistance from local/state/federal agencies—including Colombian National Police & Attorney General—as well as various offices within Department Justice.The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas serves under DOJ leadership,prosecutes federal crimes, operates out Houston headquarters,covers 43 counties spanning nine million residents,partners with law enforcement agencies, employs more than 200 attorneys,has had notable former leaders,and originated when Congress divided Texas into judicial districts.
JTFV was created in 2019 targeting MS-13 before expanding its scope; it now involves numerous U.S Attorneys’ Offices nationwide along with major federal investigative bodies such as FBI/DEA/ICE/BATFE/USMS/Federal Bureau Prisons among others.
Operation Take Back America aims at eliminating cartels/transnational organizations threatening public safety nationwide.
An indictment constitutes an accusation only; all defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due process.
