Authorities charge 16 people, including Venezuelans living illegally in Houston, with drug and weapons offenses linked to the Anti-Tren group.
HOUSTON — Sixteen people, including several Venezuelan nationals illegally residing in Houston, are now facing federal charges for drug and weapons offenses linked to the Anti-Tren transnational criminal organization, federal authorities announced Tuesday.
According to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei, the charges stem from an extensive law enforcement operation targeting Anti-Tren members and associates operating in the Houston area. Most of the defendants were expected to make their initial court appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
Cocaine trafficking conspiracy charges
Two criminal complaints charge 14 Anti-Tren members and associates with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. Those charged include:
- Luis Miguel Claros Sarmiento, 26
- Dany E. Rojas, 28
- Ismael Leon Belbin, 24
- Andy Luis Alvarez Herrera, 28
- Cesar Oskeiber Cabezas Pacheco, 26
- Cesar Mauricio Velasquez, 27
- Raul Armando Ramirez Correa, 24
- Darwin Martinez, 37
- Peter Davila, 34
- Otis Jose Rodriguez Garcia, 31
- Pedro Hernandez Delgado, 19
- Jesus F. Fernandez Troconiz, 26
- Embeer J. Gutierrez Ternawskyj, 24
- Raul Antonio Claros Sarmiento, 30, of Honduras
According to the complaints, two groups of defendants allegedly agreed to transport kilogram quantities of cocaine in exchange for $15,000 per load, with each group accepting half the payment up front.
If convicted, they each face up to life in prison and a possible $10 million fine.
Firearms offenses and links to local violence
Correa, Ternawskyj, Garcia, Delgado, and Pedro Jose Ramirez Delgado, 26, face additional weapons charges for the alleged possession and sale of firearms. Each faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Separately, Jose Miguel Briceno, 25, a Venezuelan national living in Houston illegally, is charged with unlawful possession of ammunition by an alien. Prosecutors allege Briceno was involved in a mass shooting at Latinas Sports Bar in Houston this past March, where six people were wounded, including four who were critically injured.
According to the criminal complaint, Briceno allegedly used a firearm to shoot inside the doorway of the bar, then discarded the weapon, which law enforcement has not recovered. If convicted, Briceno faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
FBI: Largest Anti-Tren takedown so far
“This case implicates both border security and violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Ganjei. “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.”
FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams called this the largest takedown of suspected Anti-Tren members and associates by the FBI to date, adding that the group is accused of engaging in a turf war with Tren de Aragua (TdA) members and committing numerous violent crimes in Houston, including the Latinas Sports Bar shooting.
National and multi-agency effort
The case is being investigated by the FBI Houston Field Office with help from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, Texas Department of Public Safety, Houston Police Department, and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Prosecutors from the Southern District of Texas, the Department of Justice’s Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), and other federal offices nationwide are involved in the case.
This investigation is also part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative focused on combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels, and targeting violent transnational criminal organizations.