Operation Take Back America: Patel’s FBI leads ‘largest’ takedown of Anti-Tren gang members



The FBI, under Kash Patel's leadership, arrested over a dozen members of the "Anti-Tren" gang, a splinter faction of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua, on charges of drug and weapons trafficking.

The Anti-Tren gang members were in the country illegally when they were picked up by FBI Houston, according to a June 30 press release from the Department of Justice.

'Operation Take Back America means going on the offensive against transnational criminal organizations to ensure that they cannot take root in our community and endanger public safety.'

"Two criminal complaints charge 14 Anti-Tren members and associates with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine," the DOJ stated. "According to the allegations, two groups of individuals agreed to transport kilogram quantities of cocaine in exchange for $15,000 for each load with each group accepting half as payment in advance."

The 14 suspects are facing up to life in prison and up to a $10 million fine.

Five individuals could face an additional 15 years in prison for alleged possession and sale of firearms.

RELATED: Trump's DOJ 'devastates' Tren de Aragua empire with first RICO charges against 27 gang-linked thugs

  Photo by El Salvador Presidency / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images

According to the criminal complaint, Jose Miguel Briceno, a 25-year-old Venezuelan national, was previously involved in a mass shooting at a Houston bar that resulted in injuries to six people. Briceno is facing separate charges for alleged unlawful possession of ammunition by an alien, which could result in up to 15 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Houston Police Department, and the Harris County Sheriff's Office assisted the FBI with its investigation.

The agency's arrests were part of a nationwide initiative, dubbed Operation Take Back America, to "repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime."

RELATED: Kristi Noem enrages liberals with 2-word response to dismissal of deportation case

  Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images

U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei stated, "The Southern District's twin priorities are securing our border and the eradication of violent crime. This case implicates both."

"Operation Take Back America means going on the offensive against transnational criminal organizations to ensure that they cannot take root in our community and endanger public safety," Ganjei continued. "SDTX is going to be unapologetic in carrying out that mission."

Douglas Williams, the special agent in charge of the FBI Houston Field Office, referred to the arrests as "the largest takedown of suspected Anti-Tren members and associates by the FBI."

"These individuals are accused of engaging in a turf war with TDA members and carrying out numerous violent crimes throughout our city, including a mass shooting at a local sports bar that left six people wounded. Fortunately, for the good and safety of our community, these individuals are now in federal custody facing U.S. justice," Williams said.

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Unlicensed midwife, worker busted for performing illegal abortions: Texas AG Paxton



Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) announced this week the arrest of three individuals tied to an investigation into illegal abortions.

On Monday, a press release from Paxton’s office stated that Maria Margarita Rojas, a 48-year-old midwife, was detained “for providing illegal abortions and illegally operating a network of clinics in the Northwest Houston area.”

'Anyone guilty of violating our state’s pro-life laws is held accountable.'

While Rojas’ clients referred to her as “Dr. Maria,” she now faces a second-degree felony for “practicing medicine without a license” and illegally performing abortions, according to Paxton’s office.

Rojas reportedly owned and operated several Texas health clinics, including Clinica Waller Latinoamericana in Waller, Clinica Latinoamericana Telge in Cypress, and Latinoamericana Medical Clinic in Spring.

The AG’s office stated that the clinics “unlawfully employed unlicensed individuals who falsely presented themselves as licensed medical professionals to provide medical treatment.”

“Rojas also performed illegal abortion procedures in her clinics in direct violation of the Texas Human Life Protection Act,” the press release added. “In addition to the arrest, Attorney General Paxton’s Healthcare Program Enforcement Division filed for a temporary restraining order to shut down Rojas’s network of clinics to prevent further illegal activity.”

On Tuesday, Paxton’s office issued a second press release announcing the arrest of 29-year-old Jose Manuel Cendan Ley, who allegedly assisted Rojas with at least one illegal abortion. He is also accused of practicing medicine without a license.

“Ley is a Cuban national who entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and was later paroled under the open borders policies enacted by the lawless Biden Administration,” Paxton’s office stated.

Citing court records, the Texas Tribune reported that Rojas was first arrested on March 6 and held on $10,000 bond for allegedly practicing without a medical license. On Monday, she was arrested again with Ley on additional charges, including performing illicit abortions. A Waller County judge set their bonds at $500,000 for the illegal abortion charges and $200,000 for charges related to practicing without a medical license.

Rubildo Labanino Matos, 54, was arrested as part of the same investigation. Matos, a nurse practitioner placed on probation, is also accused of the unlicensed practice of medicine.

Paxton’s office stated that the investigation remains ongoing.

“Individuals killing unborn babies by performing illegal abortions in Texas will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and I will not rest until justice is served,” Paxton said. “I will continue to fight to protect life and work to ensure that anyone guilty of violating our state’s pro-life laws is held accountable.”

Paxton’s office noted that abortion providers, not patients, can be held criminally responsible under Texas law.

Rojas did not respond to a request for comment from KPRC. Calls to her clinics were not answered, the Texas Tribune reported.

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ICE rounds up over 600 illegal aliens, most with criminal histories



Immigration and Customs Enforcement rounded up over 600 illegal aliens, most with a criminal history, as part of a multi-agency raid from February 23 to March 2.

ICE, in partnership with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, conducted a weeklong operation in the Houston, Texas, area.

'Many of these criminal aliens have gone on to commit violent crime and [rain] terror on law-abiding residents.'

According to an ICE press release, the agencies captured 646 illegal aliens, including 543 who had been previously "charged or convicted of a criminal offense while they were illegally present in the U.S." The raid also resulted in the arrest of seven illegal alien gang members.

The federal immigration agency noted that 140 of those arrested faced charges or convictions for violent offenses, including aggravated felony, homicide, aggravated assault, or domestic violence. Over 30 detained illegal aliens were accused or convicted of sexual crimes, such as aggravated sexual assault of a minor, possession of child pornography, or rape. Other offenses included illegal firearms, drug crimes, property violations, and drunk driving.

Bret Bradford, the director of ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office, stated, "In recent years, some of the world's most dangerous fugitives, transnational gang members and criminal aliens have taken advantage of the crisis at our nation's southern border to illegally enter the U.S."

"After illegally entering the country, many of these criminal aliens have gone on to commit violent crime and [rain] terror on law-abiding residents," Bradford continued. "Fueled by our unwavering commitment to protect the public from harm, and united in our determination to restore integrity to our nation's system of laws, ICE and our law enforcement partners in Southeast Texas have banded together to remove these dangerous criminal aliens from our local communities and put an end to the lawlessness that they spread."

ICE Homeland Security Investigations Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz applauded the agencies' efforts to make the community safer.

"As a result, we've sent a resounding message to transnational criminal organizations everywhere that the law enforcement community in the Texas Gulf Coast is more united than ever and will not rest until we've eradicated these criminal elements from the country," Plantz said.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem named two new ICE leaders on Sunday. She tapped Todd Lyons, a former assistant director of field operations for ICE's ERO, as the acting director for the federal immigration agency. Madison Sheahan, Noem's former aide as South Dakota governor, was selected as ICE's deputy director.

"Todd Lyons and Madison Sheahan are workhorses, strong executors, and accountable leaders who will lead the men and women of ICE to achieve the American people's mandate to target, arrest, and deport illegal aliens," Noem stated.

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12-year-old girl's suspected murderers may be linked to bloodthirsty Tren de Aragua gang, warrant reveals



The two Venezuelan men accused of the brutal murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston are being investigated for possible links to the transnational criminal organization Tren da Aragua, according to search warrants obtained by KPRC-TV.

In June, 22-year-old Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel and 26-year-old Franklin Jose Peña Ramos — both of whom were unlawfully in the United States — allegedly lured Nungaray under a bridge after she stopped at a convenience store. The males, who were charged with capital murder for her death, allegedly stripped her, bound her wrists and ankles, and sexually assaulted her for hours. The child was strangled to death, and her body was tossed in a bayou.

'It makes it seem more real that these people are monsters.'

Search warrants KPRC obtained revealed that Houston police and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the males for possible ties to TDA.

Authorities reportedly discovered that one of the males displayed emojis on his TikTok account bio frequently tied to TDA gang members. The emojis included a ninja, crossed swords, and a building.

According to KPRC, the search warrant read, “TdA will use certain slang and emojis in their communications with one another to identify themselves.”

Authorities also noted that the account included a Spanish message that they described as implying “TdA gang membership” and being “a call to members inside and outside the country.”

Investigators stated that additional indicators — including specific clothing, shoes, and hand signals — also were found on the account and also suggested TDA ties.

On a social media account believed to belong to Peña, law enforcement discovered a video of him with two star tattoos on his shoulders and a rose tattoo on his hands, both of which also are symbols frequently associated with the gang

Jocelyn’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, told KPRC, “It makes it seem more real that these people are monsters, and that these are evil people who do heinous things, don’t have a heart, who have no compassion for anybody.”

“We really have no business burying our kids, they’re supposed to bury us,” she continued. “This proves that these are very horrible people and … it wasn’t an accident that just went too far.”

“I needed to turn my pain into power and just make a difference,” she added. “I will use my last breath fighting for her.”

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Somali activist raised over $42,000 claiming she fell victim to a brick attack. Surveillance footage says otherwise.



Roda Osman, a 33-year-old Somali activist, claimed in a viral video in September that she had been viciously assaulted with a brick by a man whose advances she shot down. Osman claimed further that the assault went unanswered before a crowd of black men who all supposedly watched the incident unfold with total indifference.

On the basis of her claims of victimhood and trauma, Osman ended up raising over $42,000 on GoFundMe.

While the Washington Post's Karen Attiah, the Root's Candace McDuffie, and other leftists bought into Osman's claims hook, line, and sinker, many critics figured there was more to the story than the activist initially let on.

The skeptics appear to have been vindicated by surveillance footage revealing Osman's claims to be likely untrue. Osman has, in turn, been slapped with charges of felony theft by deception. She has yet to be located and arrested.

The incident, according to Osman

Osman posted a video to social media in September, which has since been reshared by the Shade Room and other accounts, wherein she claimed a man smashed her face with a brick in Houston, Texas, after she refused to give him her phone number.

Osman says in the video, "Yo, this man just hit me in my face with a brick and all these black men just watched and they don't give a f***."

The supposed victim berated men nearby, screaming, "Why don't you be a man?"

  

KPRC-TV reported that Houston police officers responded to the scene of an aggravated assault incident on Sept. 3 and met with Osman and her female friend. Officers indicated in their report that Osman was drunk and hostile during the encounter.

Osman, whose Instagram account is littered with anti-white racism and twerking videos, reportedly told police that she was walking on Schumacher Lane when a stranger whose advances she rejected threw a brick at her.

According to the charging document obtained by the Daily Beast, Osman specified that the suspect was an Uber driver whom she initially had summoned. Osman reportedly went so far as to suggest the Uber driver tried to kidnap her, was involved in human trafficking, and had a car full of women.

A profitable tale

The next day, a GoFundMe campaign with a $25,000 goal appeared called, "Help Roda Recover." Osman was listed as the beneficiary.

"Because of this vicious attack she will have to manage hospital bills, therapy, and time away from work, school and childcare while she heals mentally and physically. Unfortunately, no one stepped in to help her that night - it would mean so much if we could step up and help her as she heals," said the campaign, allegedly created by a friend of Osman named Kiara Davis.

Thousands of donations quickly began pouring in. As of Oct. 25, 2023, the campaign had raised over $42,300.

In addition to sympathetic donors, various leftists and liberal publications took Osman at her word.

The Root, among them, reported Osman "could have been killed — her injuries are unbelievably horrific — and the moment that she needed to be safeguarded the most is when she was left to fend for herself."

Not everyone bought the story, however.

Some critics dredged up various social media posts and videos Oman had previously shared, which they believed undermined her credibility — including a video where she appears to slap a stranger in the face, then proceed to dance provocatively.

Additionally, the Harris County District Attorney's Office indicated she might have previously perpetrated another assault hoax in Minneapolis for which she fundraised nearly $5,000 on GoFundMe.

In the face of mounting skepticism, Osman told NBC News, "First they're like, where's the police report?' You don't have a police report.' I show the police report. Then they're like, 'Oh, it's a fake police report.'"

"Then they're like 'Show us the hospital records. You don't have hospital records.' I show them the hospital records. 'It's fake hospital records,'" continued Osman. "The goal posts will never be met."

Uju Anya, an associate professor of second language acquisition at Carnegie Mellon University, suggested that Osman's critics were "Black men literally using white supremacist tactics to discredit and dehumanize a Black woman."

Footage and charges

When detectives finally got in touch with Osman on Sept. 19, she reportedly stuck to the broad outlines of her initial narrative, alleging she got into a car she had mistaken for an Uber and was assaulted by a man named Olan Douglas.

Over the course of the interview, Osman made changes to her story, including the location where the supposed assault occurred. When her narrative began to crumble, KPRC reported Osman became upset, demanded to speak to the detective's supervisor, then hung up.

Houston detectives ultimately got their hands on surveillance footage in the area where the assault supposedly occurred.

Detectives indicated they observed Osman, her friend, and Olan Douglas chatting and walking toward TikTalk Garden Lounge, then go into the club together in the footage. After 20 minutes, they reportedly emerged from the club, then traipsed toward a white Maserati parked nearby.

Surveillance footage allegedly shows Osman dance on her supposed attacker while her friend was in the front of the vehicle with another man. After Osman concluded her dance, surveillance footage reportedly showed the remainder of the foursome get into the Maserati, with Douglas and Osman in the back seat.

The charging document indicates that minutes later, Douglas, Osman, and her friend exited the vehicle, at which time Douglas and Osman allegedly got into a spat.

A detective told NBC News that Osman can be seen slapping the man whom she had danced on. In response, he allegedly smacked Osman with a hand gripping a plastic water bottle. Douglas then reportedly departed in an Audi A3 that had pulled up, while Osman seated herself in the front passenger seat of the Maserati.

Keith Houston of the Harris County District Attorney's Office told KPRC the water bottle is likely "what left the mark on her, on her face. But it was mutual combat."

While KPRC indicated Osman has yet to respond to an request for comment, she noted in an Instagram story Wednesday, "I actually have things going on in my life. I actually have real ways to make money. I don't have to get a GoFundMe for money. I actually can earn income because I'm actually educated and I actually am talented."

Osman is wanted for theft in Harris County.

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Houston schools see 40,000 drop in student enrollment over coronavirus, and it's gonna cost them millions



Schools in Houston, Texas, are reporting a precipitous drop in enrollment, and it's going to cost them millions in funding if it continues.

According to a review of data by KHOU-TV reported to the Texas Education Agency, sixteen of Houston's 20 largest districts will have fewer students this year than previously enrolled.

That adds up to an incredible figure of 38,766 students missing from public school instruction.

And they're not quite sure where all of them went.

"I think that's what everyone is trying to figure out right now," said Duncan Klussmann, a professor and former superintendent.

"Some students can be homeschooled, so that could be a factor," he added. "There could be some students in private settings. And there's going to be a certain percent of students who just are not enrolling at all."

Houston Independent School Department Interim Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan said that officials are trying to locate those students in order to make sure they have the proper school instruction.

"We're still trying to locate those students, provide them with the necessary resources so they can definitely re-enroll," Lathan said.

Since school funding is determined by per-pupil spending, the drop in enrollment is going to cost Houston schools tens of millions of dollars.

"If nothing changes from here on out, then in Alief ISD we'll see anywhere from a $25-$40 million revenue cut," says Alief Independent School Department Superintendent HD Chambers.

"The students are going to lose, staff members are going to lose, teachers are going to lose," he added.

Chambers believes part of the issue is that parents find it difficult to keep younger students in front of a screen for distance instruction.

"It's so difficult to have a four-year-old or a five-year-old or a six-year-old sit in front of a computer monitor and try to learn virtually," he explained. "So they become frustrated with that."

The Texas Education Agency has said it will fully fund schools for only the first semester without consideration to the number of students being instructed. It is unclear what will happen to funding after the first semester.

Here's the local news video about the stunning figure:

 Houston-area school districts report enrollment drop of nearly 40,000 studentswww.youtube.com