Cover-up? What Aurora officials already knew about rising Venezuelan gang violence



City officials in Aurora, Colorado, repeatedly denied the growing threat of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua despite apparent early warnings, according to emails obtained by Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky.

In a Wednesday post on X, Jurinsky shared an internal Aurora Police Department email dated November 16, 2023, from Gang Intervention Unit Officer Matthew Walters to Chief of Police Chris Poppe and several other colleagues.

'The liberal media and some politicians want you to believe that it is okay for people to live like this because it's just a handful of apartment complexes and not the entire city of Aurora.'

Walters explained that he had attached a "Gang Unit Bulletin" on TDA, which he planned to share with the entire department the following day. He noted that the announcement included information provided to him by a Homeland Security Investigations sergeant and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, according to a photo of the email.

The ICE officer "stated TdA has decided to make Denver their headquarters due to sanctuary policies and location," Walters apparently wrote.

Poppe replied, asking Walters, "Is there any Aurora-centric info that could be included in the bulletin? Known addresses, or hangouts, or specifics cops should be aware of?"

In another X post, Jurinsky leaked a June 30 department email regarding an incident at Whispering Pines Apartments, owned by CBZ Management. According to the correspondence, a cleaning crew worker reported being "threatened ... to give up the keys to the vacant apartments … so that a group of Venezuelans could move people into" the complex.

"Suspects left but not before warning her to comply or else they would kill her and her family," the email continued, according to the photo.

The suspects reportedly stated that they had the building "under surveillance and that they had over 200 people working for them."

"I would highly recommend you guys to take 2-3 friends with you when responding to any calls there," the department email added.

In an email, Major Crime Homicide Unit Sergeant Jeff Longnecker stated, "I would be happy to go over this case with anyone that still denies this is a major problem."

Longnecker was referring to a murder, but it is not clear from the email which case precisely.

He expressed frustration that multiple agencies appeared to have opened criminal investigations into TDA, but "nobody seems to be able to work with each other."

"As soon as this group kills an innocent person all hell is going to break lose and I would hate for us all to be exposed for not sharing information with each other and/or not being able to show that we have dedicated proactive units and investigative units directly impacting this problem," Longnecker wrote.

Jurinsky torched some city leaders for downplaying the severity of the situation.

In a separate post on X, she stated, "The liberal media and some politicians want you to believe that it is okay for people to live like this because it's just a handful of apartment complexes and not the entire city of Aurora. I ask again what the threshold is for these 'leaders' to care?"

CBZ Management wrote in a post on social media this week, "The police knew about the TDA gangs taking over our properties - as early as Sept 22, 2023 - and didn't warn us! Worse, they put the onus of security on our employees without us knowing the danger!"

The company shared another leaked internal department email dated September 2023, with the subject line "Tren de Aragua."

"According to interviews from residence [sic] Tren de Aragua is working out of Aurora and residing in our city," the sergeant's email apparently read.

Ryan Luby, a city of Aurora spokesperson, told the Denver Gazette, "We must remember that police departments and the justice system as a whole must rely on admissible evidence, not hearsay, rumors and fragments of information."

"Contrary to claims made on social media and by select news organizations, the city, including APD, has remained consistent in responses on this matter," Luby wrote in a Thursday statement to the news outlet.

Luby also pushed back on CBZ Management, telling the Denver Gazette, "Instead of expending the resources to address the documented issues, CBZ and its stakeholders have hired a team of attorneys and, as we learned today, a Florida-based public relations firm to engage in diversionary tactics, fight the city in its city charter-mandated duties to enforce city code, and alternative narratives with many of you."

Governor Jared Polis' office told the news outlet that the governor's office is "committed to supporting local law enforcement and their work to keep our communities safe."

Polis previously called TDA's takeover of apartment complexes "largely a feature of Danielle Jurinsky's imagination."

"The state was first notified by Homeland Security in late July that they were monitoring activity in Aurora, the state then immediately reached out to the city of Aurora, including the Governor reaching out to the Mayor, to offer any assistance needed," the governor's office told the Denver Gazette. "When Governor Polis met with Mayor Coffman in late July, we were informed that the city did not have a strong criminal case yet and the state offered dedicated investigative support in the form of Troopers and CBI agents to work cases, and DHSEM provided analysts to support investigations to identify and arrest known criminal gang elements."

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Sabo sentenced! America's best street artist needs our support



Aurora, Colorado, has finally started cracking down on crime.

No, not the violent Venezuelan gangs taking over apartment complexes, terrorizing tenants, and beating property managers to a bloody pulp.

'My wife is a migrant. I must have paid over $10,000 to get her here legally. ... I ... don’t have a problem with immigration; I have a problem with unchecked illegal immigration.'

We're sure Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser will get to that eventually.

In the meantime, the intrepid lawman has cracked the case of his career: nabbing the maniac behind the street art protesting the town's mass immigration-induced mayhem.

That's right: After two decades of risking life, limb, and liberty to bring truly provocative and countercultural art to the public, Sabo has been busted.

As the Gateway Pundit's Patty McMurray reports, the formally trained former Marine was hauled before a judge last week for sentencing.

Unable to afford a lawyer and unwilling to trust one supplied by the state, the based Banksy represented himself — offering this stirring statement to judge deciding his fate:

My wife is a migrant. I must have paid over $10,000 to get her here legally. I paid for expensive biometric scans twice, a health screening, background check. Documents had to be signed stating that she would not be a burden to the taxpayers. She’s never spent a day worried about having a roof over her head or where our next meal was coming from, this because we did it the right way. I, like most, don’t have a problem with immigration; I have a problem with unchecked illegal immigration.

I’m a self-employed artist who’s educated at one of the top art colleges in the world. I know my country; I speak its language. I’m familiar with the marketplace of my chosen profession, and with all this, I can no longer afford to live in my own country. How do these migrants have any hope to to make it here, at least not without financially bankrupting our communities while at the same time overlooking America’s forgotten poor, including veterans who live out on the street?

These newcomers, some of whom are extremely violent, are always dumped in underrepresented communities, making an already bad situation worse. Last winter, tens of thousands of improperly vetted migrants, many illegally in the country, were dropped off in Denver in -12 degree weather. Many forced to brave the cold in tents. It was reported that some were forced to prostitute their wives, daughters, and girlfriends simply to keep from starving or freezing to death. Politicians from both sides of the political aisle should be ashamed of themselves for what they put the poorest from around the world through by conning them to come here — especially in the middle of winter.

I pray we still have a First Amendment to help protect political art, which is its intended purpose. Nothing was destroyed or permanently damaged, except maybe for the feelings of some local politicians for pointing out the mess they’ve made of things.

Now Sabo must pay a fine and perform community service — all while continuing to support himself and his work on a shoestring budget.

In an email to Align, Sabo emphasized that he's not the only one sticking his neck out to spread the truth.

"My main assistant is about to pull the plug on his mother, and I'd like to spend some time with him as well," he writes. "And I'm not rich, so this would help. That guy has [done more to help] us putting up art than anyone I know."

In other words, if you're already a Sabo fan, now would be a good time to express your support.

Go to his website and buy some original art — perhaps his new Vote Wisely poster. Or contribute to the GiveSendGo he's set up to help pay his legal fees.

And if you're not a Sabo fan yet, check out Align's coverage of his previous missions here.

Aurora apartment owner confirms Venezuelan gang takeovers — releases shocking evidence of bloody assault



CBZ Management, a company that owns a number of apartment complexes in Colorado, broke its silence on Friday, confirming that the vicious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua has taken over several properties.

The company started an account on X to share its side of the story after many local officials and the media reported that the claims of TDA's takeover were overblown.

'Yes, gangs did take control of our apartment complexes in Aurora, Colorado, and the government did nothing. That is the real story.'

Rumors of the transnational gang's expanded presence in the area became seemingly undeniable in late August when Cindy Romero, a former tenant at the Edge at Lowry, a property owned by CBZ, released a video showing a group of armed men storming through the complex, Blaze News previously reported. Another video the then-tenant captured showed a man using a hammer to destroy the deadbolt lock on the same apartment unit.

Cindy Romero and her husband, Edward, were desperate to leave the complex, saying it had become "a nightmare" since the gang had moved in. Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky ultimately helped find the Romeros another place to live.

At the time, Jurinksy told Fox News Digital that it was "like pulling teeth to get anyone, the media, other elected officials ... to acknowledge the presence of this trend and to acknowledge that there is even a problem."

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) called the TDA invasion "largely a feature of Danielle Jurinsky's imagination."

CBZ explained that it had begun managing the Colorado properties in 2019, and, at that time, the apartments "were in poor condition." The company aimed to renovate the complexes and increase their value, noting that the project was "ambitious" and would "take years" to complete.

"Everything was progressing smoothly: property values were rising, and vacancy rates were dropping. It was a win-win for both the owners and the city of Aurora," CBZ wrote in a lengthy thread on X. "Then, the gangs arrived."

In 2023, one of CBZ's representatives was viciously attacked when he attempted to perform an inspection at one of the properties, the company stated. When he arrived, he found "a group of men" inside a three-bedroom apartment that should have been vacated.

"When he refused their $500 bribe to overlook the situation, they brutally attacked him," CBZ wrote.

The company released a short surveillance video of the attack and a photograph taken shortly afterward showing the victim's injuries. In the picture, the representative's face and shirt were covered in blood, and he appeared to have bruising around his eye.

Unfortunately, it did not end there for the CBZ representative, the company said.

"After the attack on our CBZ representative, he began getting threatening text messages," the company continued. "These criminals revealed his home address and his spouse's name."

According to CBZ, law enforcement officials confirmed that those sending the messages and occupying the complexes were TDA members.

"They also mentioned that our situation was just 'a blip on the radar,' as this gang is causing significant problems nationwide," CBZ said.

After effectively taking over three complexes, gang members allegedly presented CBZ with an ultimatum to split the rental income in half or "lose the buildings permanently."

CBZ said it made the decision to withdraw its management team from the properties due to safety concerns.

"Despite the obvious crisis, several city officials refused to acknowledge the reality. Instead, they blamed us, citing 'code violations' as the reason for shutting down our property—violations we couldn't resolve for tenants who weren't even ours," CBZ wrote.

The company claimed that the only violations it did not resolve were those made after the gang took over.

Even after local reports surfaced of authorities arresting 10 confirmed TDA gang members with ties to the apartment takeovers, the media and local officials continued to call others' concerns overblown.

On Sunday, Republican vice presidential nominee, Sen. JD Vance (Ohio), humiliated ABC News anchor Martha Raddatz for trying to downplay the severity of the situation in Aurora. According to Raddatz, former President Donald Trump's claims that TDA has taken over parts of the city have been debunked.

"Do you support Donald Trump making those claims that the Republican mayor says were grossly exaggerated and have hurt the city's identity and sense of safety?" Raddatz asked Vance.

"Martha, you just said the mayor said they were exaggerated. That means there's got to be some element of truth here," Vance responded.

Raddatz interrupted Vance's reply and stated that the TDA takeovers "were limited to a handful of apartment complexes."

"Martha, do you hear yourself?!" Vance fired back. "Only a handful of apartment complexes in America were taken over by Venezuelan gangs, and Donald Trump is the problem and not Kamala Harris' open border?!"

In a post on X, CBZ wrote, "Despite clear evidence, many still deny the reality of the situation, sometimes using us as scapegoats. That's why we are no longer staying silent. We will continue to counter falsehoods with simple facts and evidence."

"Yes, gangs did take control of our apartment complexes in Aurora, Colorado, and the government did nothing. That is the real story," it added.

Cindy Romero told Fox News on Monday that the media's attempts to minimize the situation feel like "a slap in the face."

"How many gangs is OK to have in Aurora? How many properties is OK to take over? How many people, who are citizens paying their bills, is it OK to displace?" Romero asked.

An Aurora representative told the New York Post that CBZ's claims were "exaggerations."

"These delinquent property owners, managers and/or 'investors' conveniently fail to acknowledge that their own bank lenders took them to court in the last few weeks where a judge ordered some of their problematic properties into receivership," the spokesperson stated. "That means a judge has given the legal authority to a third-party receiver to actually manage the properties, and who the property owners will be forced to compensate."

The FBI declined to comment, the Post reported.

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Suspect admits Tren de Aragua ties after viral video shows him with armed group at Aurora apartment: Report



A man recently admitted to law enforcement that he is a member of the gang Tren de Aragua after he was reportedly caught on surveillance footage storming through a Colorado apartment complex with several other armed individuals, according to a New York Post report.

In August, a viral video showed a group of five men, four of whom were carrying firearms, banging on the door to a residence at the Edge at Lowry, an apartment complex in Aurora, Blaze News previously reported.

Former residents and locals have sounded the alarm about TDA gang members taking over the property after Venezuelan nationals started moving in. TDA members have also reportedly expanded their presence to other apartments in the Aurora area.

Three men were arrested in connection with the August video. One of those individuals has reportedly confessed to being a TDA gang member, law enforcement sources told the Post.

Three other men who were captured in the video have not yet been identified.

During an interview with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, 20-year-old Niefred Serpa-Acosta allegedly admitted to being in TDA. Sources also told the Post that Serpa-Acosta has crown tattoos, a symbol frequently associated with the gang.

Aurora police Chief Todd Chamberlain has claimed that the department's investigation into the incident has not found any gang ties.

"There's a lot of limitations, a lot of rules, a lot of regulations that relate to identifying someone as a specific gang member or an affiliate of a gang," Chamberlain said. "Many of these individuals we're talking about come from a country which does not have a strong relationship with the United States, come from a country that does not have a database that they are going to share."

All three of the suspects have lengthy rap sheets in the state, according to sources.

KCNC-TV previously reported that the men were also involved in a deadly shooting approximately 10 minutes after the surveillance footage was captured.

There is currently no confirmed evidence that the two other arrested suspects — 25-year-old Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco and 21-year-old Naudi Lopez Fernandez — are affiliated with the gang.

Sources told the Post that Zambrano-Pacheco and Lopez Fernandez crossed illegally into the U.S. and were quickly released by border authorities. Since they have been in the country, they have been arrested multiple times.

Acosta was reportedly arrested at least three times for theft, and, on one of those occasions, he was also charged with resisting arrest and obstructing an officer, according to the Post's sources. He is currently in ICE custody.

The Aurora Police Department and ICE did not respond to a request for comment from the Post.

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CNN host, Dem analyst blow fuse, accuse Trump campaign of ‘endangering’ lives, ‘gaslighting’ about immigration crisis



CNN anchor Kate Bolduan and Democratic analyst Karen Finney went ballistic on Marc Lotter, the chief communications officer at American First Policy Institute and former director of strategic communications for the Trump-Pence administration, during a Thursday interview on the network.

Bolduan accused Lotter and Donald Trump’s campaign of “gaslighting” the American people about the immigration crisis, particularly regarding Haitian pet-eating allegations in Springfield, Ohio.

'What they need, as the mayor himself said, is help. Not hate. Not the KKK showing up, not the Proud Boys showing up.'

“If we’re talking about immigration, now you have this added fact, that Donald Trump now promises that he’s gonna be going to Springfield, Ohio, in the next two weeks to continue to lean on what the Republican governor has said is a bunch of garbage in terms of these conspiracy theories about immigrants eating pets,” Bolduan stated.

“Why would you advise him to go and do that?” Bolduan asked Lotter.

“Absolutely, I would advise him to go because what‘s going on in Springfield, Ohio, what’s going on in Aurora, Colorado, it’s not just about a specific incident, it’s about what we see these unchecked immigration doing to these communities as people are fighting for housing, fighting for services,” Lotter responded.

Bolduan quickly interrupted, snapping at Lotter, “No, it definitely has to do with specific things, Marc. Come on!”

“I have officially entered the realm of gaslighting,” she continued. “I have good friends and analysts now coming out over the past two days telling me what is reality is not reality. Marc, the governor says it’s garbage. ... There are no pets being eaten in Springfield, so it is an embodiment or a representation of absolutely zero.”

Lotter proceeded to explain that the town, which was previously roughly 60,000 people, has since become overwhelmed by the 15,000 to 20,000 Haitian nationals “dumped into that community.”

Finney responded, “No,” as Lotter continued.

“You have residents there who are worried, they are facing reduced services, they are seeing their parks overrun,” Lotter said. “There’s discussions about people who are squatting on people’s yards. There’s a lot of problems there.”

Finney again replied, “No.”

“Look at what’s going on in Aurora, Colorado, where you have Venezuelan gangs taking over apartment complexes,” Lotter added.

Once more, Finney rejected Lotter’s statements.

“It’s disgusting and shameful, and it is endangering the lives of children and families! Shame on him and shame on JD Vance, because here’s the truth,” Finney barked. “Nobody dumped people on Springfield, Ohio. Businesses in Ohio had job shortages. They were recruiting Haitian migrants who are here in this country legally to come to help fill what are menial labor jobs that people who lived there didn’t want to do. That’s what happened.”

She continued, “What they need, as the mayor himself said, is help. Not hate. Not the KKK showing up, not the Proud Boys showing up.”

Finney accused Trump of using a “political tactic,” claiming he “demonize[d], dehumanize[d] and lie[d] about migrants to scare people.”

She questioned how Trump’s administration would conduct mass deportations.

“Are cops going to go house to house and just pull people out of their homes? How are they going to decide who is here legally and who is here not legally? Is it going to be deportation camps? I’m telling you, it’s a disaster. And who’s going to pay for it?” Finney asked.

Lotter suggested that the deportation efforts begin with the criminals and gang members.

“You’re going to have to define what a criminal is because they’re — some of the immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are being wrongfully labeled criminals by Donald Trump!” Bolduan claimed.

Lotter said, “There are so many communities out there that are struggling to keep up with services, whether it’s New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, wherever. Now, we’re seeing it going into smaller communities. People are worried.”

Lotter noted that Trump was “highlighting the problems” in these communities.

“Just, on a factual basis, it’s not highlighting a problem. It’s not because, factually, it’s not happening in Springfield. Go find your problem elsewhere then if you want to have the factoid,” Bolduan responded. “That’s my point. It’s not, Marc, that there isn’t problems with immigration in this country right now. Democrats and Republicans agree with that, but it’s finding examples that don’t exist that is the problem here.”

Finney argued that the country needs “comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for those who are here legally.”

Lotter interrupted Finney, claiming she was suggesting mass amnesty.

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Crisis in the heartland: Trump to visit Springfield and Aurora to highlight immigration turmoil



Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump held a campaign rally on Wednesday in Uniondale, New York, during which he stated that he soon plans to visit Springfield, Ohio, and Aurora, Colorado.

Both cities are currently under media spotlight for their communities' ongoing battle with the Biden-Harris administration's illegal immigration crisis.

During Trump's packed rally at the Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, he stated, "It is truly an invasion, and we're not going to let it happen. We're going to take those violent people, and we're going to ship them back to their country. And if they come back in, they're going to pay a hell of a price."

"This is not sustainable by any country," Trump continued, adding that tens of thousands of immigrants have moved into Springfield.

"This is a little beautiful town. No crime. No problem. Thirty-two-thousand illegal immigrants come into the town, 32, so they almost double their population in a period of a few weeks," he said.

Trump declared, "I'm going to go there in the next two weeks. I'm going to Springfield, and I'm going to Aurora."

He vowed to solve the immigration crisis in the country.

Trump then took a bit of a swipe at Springfield Mayor Rob Rue (R), saying, "I think he's a very nice person, but instead of saying, 'We're getting them all out' ... he says, very simply, 'We're hiring teachers to teach them English.' Can you believe it?"

Rue responded to Trump's announcement about his plans to visit the city, stating that he would rather the former president skip the stop.

"It would be an extreme strain on our resources. So it'd be fine with me if they decided not to make that visit," Rue stated, according to NBC News.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said that a visit by Trump would be "generally very, very welcomed."

"I have to state the reality, though, that resources are really, really stretched here," DeWine added.

Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R), told reporters on Tuesday that he has not yet decided if he will make the trip to Springfield.

"I think, obviously, the president and the president's team would talk to the local officials in Springfield to make sure that already precious law enforcement resources weren't stressed by a visit," Vance explained.

"I don't think that there's anything firm just yet," he continued. "I haven't made plans to go just in the last few days. I know the president would like to go but also hasn't made any explicit plans."

According to WABC-TV, more than 60,000 tickets were requested to attend Trump's rally on Long Island. The venue's capacity is 16,000. Many of Trump's supporters who could not get into the event gathered outside the building to watch his live speech on screens.

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Denver suburbs weigh lawsuit against sanctuary city over immigrant crisis, gang activity



The suburbs around the Denver area are weighing filing a lawsuit against the sanctuary city over the massive uptick in immigrant arrivals that has brought with it an increase in gang activity.

The Castle Rock Town Council recently passed a motion this month instructing the town's attorney to consider a lawsuit against Denver. The city's sanctuary policies have allowed more than 42,000 immigrants to pour into the area while shielding them from federal immigration officials.

'We understand that there is a storm coming.'

The motion was put forth by Castle Rock City Council member Max Brooks, who told KCNC-TV, "This isn't just a decision that Denver gets to make because it's impacting the rest of the Front Range. So the idea is to join with other municipalities and say it's time to stop."

"Our town attorney's office has already had conversations with the county attorney with Douglas County, already had conversations with the city of Aurora, and also had conversations with the city of Parker," Brooks stated, indicating that other municipalities have expressed interest in joining a potential lawsuit.

According to KCNC, Parker and Aurora are also weighing joining the lawsuit.

"I don't want a dime from Denver, I just don't want them to continue to have a policy that is having a negative impact on the Front Range," he continued. "You don't wait until the hurricane is on you to board up your windows and leave town. We understand that there is a storm coming."

Brooks noted that the increase of immigrants arriving in Douglas County has led to "instances of crime."

"This isn't about labeling and saying the migrants need to be deported. It's not about that. It's about stopping and making sure we're not bringing in any more when obviously Denver is not able to handle what's already happened," he added.

Some parts of Aurora have recently been rocked by an increased presence of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, with reports that the violent group has taken over several apartment complexes.

Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky has blamed the gang's activity on Denver's sanctuary policies.

"In the entire Denver metro area, it has been like pulling teeth to get anyone, the media, other elected officials, to get anyone to acknowledge the presence of this trend and to acknowledge that there is even a problem," Jurinsky previously told Fox News Digital.

However, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) has claimed that the TDA's invasion of some apartment complexes is largely a figment of Jurinksy's "imagination."

Earlier this year, several counties filed a lawsuit against Denver, claiming its policies "create dangerous conditions" for Colorado residents and immigrants, Blaze News previously reported. Douglas, El Paso, Elbert, Garfield, Mesa, and Rio Blanco Counties all joined that complaint.

Douglas County Undersheriff Dave Walcher stated at the time, "The mission of all of us is to keep this county safe that is my job to keep Douglas County residents safe and what we've seen over the last several years dating back to 2019 in one of the bills that was discussed is the fact that it limits our ability to work with ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement]."

Cited in the complaint are Colorado House 19-1124 and 23-1100, which the counties called "illegal and unconstitutional" for undermining federal immigration laws and regulations.

The legislation prohibits state law enforcement agents from sharing information regarding illegal immigrants with federal immigration officials.

District 2 Commissioner George Teal previously told KNUS, "We have a laundry list of counties and municipalities across the state who are just aching to join us on this," referring to the lawsuit.

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Police identify 10 Tren de Aragua members with alleged ties to Colorado apartment takeovers



The Aurora Police Department recently released a statement revealing that it has identified 10 confirmed members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

On Wednesday, APD posted a bulletin about the individuals, stating that the department has been "investigating reports" that the gang has been active in the area.

One of the men, Larry Medina, was arrested by authorities on July 10 in connection with a felony for alleged "menacing at Whispering Pines Condominiums." A victim accused Medina of pointing a gun and threatening to kill them.

'We can also now confirm that criminal activity, including TdA issues, had significantly affected those properties.'

Jhonardy Pacheco-Chirinos was detained earlier this year after he was accused of first-degree assault that reportedly took place at Fitzsimons Place, an Aurora apartment complex.

Jhonnarty Dejesus Pacheco-Chirinos was also arrested in connection with a non-fatal shooting that occurred at the property.

Yoendry Vilchez Medina-Jose was captured last month by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office for his alleged involvement in an assault at Whispering Pines Condominiums in November.

Earlier this year, Juan Carlos Mejia-Espana was detained following a domestic dispute at the same apartment complex.

According to the APD, eight of the 10 identified TDA gang members have been arrested for allegedly "committing acts of violence against members of the migrant community."

The update from law enforcement officials comes amid arguments from some politicians, including Democratic Governor Jared Polis, that claims of the gang's increased presence in the area and takeover of several apartment complexes are incorrect or overblown.

Polis previously called the apartment takeovers a figment of Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky's "imagination," Blaze News reported. Jurinsky has been outspoken about her concerns regarding TDA's influence in the area.

Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman and Jurinsky released a joint statement this week with the "full enforcement" of the city manager and ADP.

"For some time, well before concerns about TdA in Colorado generated national attention, APD had been arresting people for various criminal activities who had suspected, but not necessarily confirmed, TdA connections. To date, APD has now linked 10 people to TdA and has arrested eight of those people," the joint statement read.

"Two of the eight individuals who were taken into custody were involved in a July shooting at one of the specific properties in the city that have experienced issues with TdA activity. In line with these arrests, we can also now confirm that criminal activity, including TdA issues, had significantly affected those properties," it added.

The two clarified that "TDA has not 'taken over' the city," but its "presence in Aurora is limited to specific properties."

In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Polis said, "Aurora is a great, vibrant city of more than 400,000 hardworking Coloradans and a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family and the Governor hopes that there has not been reputational damage from previous, cynical statements made by certain city officials."

"Colorado is a zero-tolerance state for illegal activity. The Governor and his public safety team have been in close contact with the mayor and the City of Aurora for weeks on this matter, and are active participants in the task force," the spokesperson added.

— (@)

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2 suspected Tren de Aragua gang members released from custody despite alleged ties to Colorado shooting



Two suspected Tren de Aragua gang members were recently allowed back out onto the streets even after apparently being tied to a shooting in Aurora, Colorado.

Dixon Azuaje-Perez, 20, and Nixon Azuaje-Perez, 19, brothers from Venezuela, were released from custody after being accused of attempting to tamper with evidence related to a July 28 shooting, sources told the New York Post.

'There's hardly any vetting done.'

Around 4:30 a.m. on the day of the incident, police received reports of shots fired. They arrived at the scene to find two men with gunshot wounds, including one with life-threatening injuries.

Last week, the Aurora Police Department confirmed that several men were arrested in connection with the shooting who have suspected gang ties.

"On July 29, the Aurora Police Department arrested Jhonnarty Dejesus Pacheco-Chirinos, age 24, for attempted murder and other charges related to an attempted homicide on July 28 on Nome Street," the police department wrote. "We can now confirm that he is a documented member of Tren de Aragua (TdA). He is the brother of Jhonardy Jose Pacheco-Chirinos, also known as 'Cookie' or 'Galleta.' After working with our local, state and federal partners, we are now able to share those gang-related connections. Both Jhonnarty and Jhonardy remain in ICE custody."

The department noted that the Azuaje-Perez brothers were also arrested and "suspected to be members of TdA."

"Any presence of criminal activity, including gang activity, will not be tolerated. The Aurora Police Department will continue to fight crime; we will find and arrest those responsible," the department added.

— (@)

However, since law enforcement's announcement, the Azuaje-Perez brothers posted a $1,000 bond and were released with GPS monitoring technology, according to the Post's source. The source stated that the brothers are near a Denver apartment complex.

The two suspects reportedly entered the United States in August after using the Biden-Harris administration's CBP One application to schedule an appointment to request asylum at a port of entry, the Post reported. The brothers allegedly told federal authorities that they planned to head to New York, but ended up in Colorado instead.

A source told the Post, "There's hardly any vetting done with that app. So it doesn't surprise me that gang members get in so easily and frequently."

Despite Immigration and Customs Enforcement placing detainer requests against both brothers, they were released from local custody without notification to the federal law enforcement agency due to the area's sanctuary policies.

According to court records, Nixon's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday, while Dixon's arraignment is slated for next month.

Law enforcement agencies have reported an increased number of crimes committed by TDA members as the group expands its influence in Colorado and the U.S. In Aurora, the gang has been linked to several apartment takeovers.

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KAMALA’S AMERICA: Venezuelan gangs in 11 STATES — and counting



Migrants have flooded into America under the Biden administration’s watch, and now American citizens are reaping the not-so-great consequences.

In a shocking report from Chicago, emergency dispatch received 911 calls reporting 32 Venezuelan gang members trespassing in the courtyard of an apartment building on the South Side of Chicago, brandishing weapons.

Similar reports are being made in Aurora, Colorado.

“This is America in 2024, under Joe Biden and ‘border czar’ Kamala Harris,” Sara Gonzales of “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered” comments, disturbed. “Seems to be what happens when we open the border and welcome anyone in.”

As the Venezuelan gangs take hold of buildings in Chicago and Aurora, American gang members have been sending warnings via TikTok. One video shows a man with head tattoos with his face-tattooed friend “Big Mod,” driving around with a speaker phone telling the foreigners that they “invented gang violence.”

“When you have the gang members who are like ‘we’re taking America back, baby, we ain’t letting them in here,’ you know something’s gone awry,” Gonzales comments.

While Gonzales isn’t happy that American cities are being overrun by gangs of illegal immigrants, she does see a silver lining.

“I don’t like that this is happening, but if it’s going to happen, nine weeks before an election where people have to make a choice who they want to lead the country and their vision for the future of the country is not a terrible time for Venezuelan gangs to start taking over random cities,” she explains.

In addition, new reports claim that 75% of arrests in Midtown Manhattan are now of illegal immigrants, and places like Connecticut are also being warned of the presence of these Venezuelan gangs.

The gang has reportedly flooded into 11 different states, and a thousand members have made it into the country illegally.

“Coming soon to a state near you,” Gonzales says, “Venezuelan gang members taking over your apartment complexes. This is America. Do you want better? Do you want different? Go to the polls in November.”


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