Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua has now spread to one of America's most remote states, after an alleged member was arrested for robbery last month.
Local authorities in West Fargo, North Dakota, arrested suspected gang member Henry Theis, 25, in early November, according to the Cass County Jail roster.
Violent gang that made national headlines in 2023 after reports of group members detained Hostage apartment building in Aurora, ColoradoIt has now expanded its territory to more than a dozen American states.
Venezuelan national and Tren de Aragua gang member arrested in Trump's backyard
“Tren de Aragua now has a presence in 17 states.” Congressman Troy E. Niles, Republican from Texas, Published on X. He added, “I look forward to working with President Trump to secure our borders and restore safety to our communities.”
West Fargo has a population of less than 40,000, and North Dakota itself is one of the least populated states in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Tren de Aragua, which means “the train from Aragua,” traces its origins to a Venezuelan prison more than a decade ago.
Alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang took over an apartment building in Aurora, Colorado, and charged rent for “protection.” (Edward Romero, left, and Aurora Police Department)
Police originally stopped Theis for driving without headlights on, but soon discovered more than $24,000 in cash he allegedly stole from a nearby bank, a face mask, a latex glove, cables, and a computer keyboard during a search of his car. According to KXLG.
Court documents revealed that Theis admitted to being part of an organization of hackers who were exploiting ATM machines, using a virus to steal money.
West Fargo Bank of North Dakota in 2001. (Andre Jenny/Alamy Stock Photo)
Two more suspects were arrested, bringing the total amount of the theft to nearly $100,000. Local media reported that Theis provided the names of other individuals involved, including Jefferson Rodriguez Quintero and Reber Sanchez, who were also arrested.
Another Venezuelan national, suspected of being a member of the Tren de Aragua gang, was recently arrested Arrest near President-elect Trump's home Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
“U.S. Border Patrol agents have arrested a Venezuelan national identified as a member of the Tren de Aragua gang,” Jeffrey Dennis, senior patrol agent for the U.S. Border Patrol’s Miami Sector, wrote on X on Tuesday.
These photos from a CBP intelligence bulletin show Tren De Aragua's tattoos and identification. (ice)
Violent crimes committed by members of the Tren de Aragua have spread throughout the country and have been linked to the high-profile murders of a nursing student. Laken Riley In Georgia, he was 12 years old Jocelyn Nungaray In Houston.
In addition to North Dakota, the gang has a presence in Colorado, Texas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and most recently in Virginia, Montana and Wyoming. According to New York Post report Which cites the Homeland Security memo.
