Three Tren de Aragua Gang Members Sentenced to 20 Years for Denver Kidnapping and Torture
The men, who targeted their roommate after discovering his family were police officers in Venezuela, inflicted severe abuse and demanded ransom.
Three members of the Tren de Aragua gang have been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for their roles in the kidnapping and torture of a man in Denver. Darwin Veliz-Gonzalez, Jefferson Balza-Defin, and Yender Enrique Campos-Malave pleaded guilty to attempted kidnapping and received their sentences at separate hearings.
A fourth man charged in the case, Jose Daniel Pineda-Moreno, has also pleaded guilty to attempted kidnapping and is awaiting sentencing in December.
The victim was reportedly tortured at his residence at 535 South Hazel Court in October 2024. His roommates, who were also from Venezuela, allegedly discovered that the victim and his father were police officers in their home country. Prosecutors stated the victim was tied up, deprived of food and water for several days, and subjected to severe abuse, including near-strangulation and being held underwater for extended periods. He was also threatened with a firearm and pistol-whipped.
The captors videotaped the torture and sent the footage to the victim's wife, demanding $30,000 in ransom. When the family refused to pay, the gang members allegedly cut off the victim's pinky finger with pliers, also filming the act and sending it to his family.
During the ordeal, the captors maintained communication with Tren de Aragua leaders in Venezuela and Colombia. On October 16, 2024, police responded to the home for a welfare check. Although officers did not locate the victim during a brief search, their presence apparently prompted the gang members to flee. The victim subsequently escaped and reported the crime to the Denver Police Department.
"The actions of these criminals were despicable," Police Chief Ron Thomas stated. "And I applaud the victim of this heinous crime. The courageous victim came forward and worked with us to bring these violent offenders to justice."
US Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly commented, "Colorado is safer with these violent criminals in federal prison for the next 20 years, and we will continue to pursue every member of Tren de Aragua until there are no more left in our state."
The FBI described the Tren de Aragua gang as a "violent Venezuelan gang" that engages in extortion, kidnapping, human trafficking, drug trafficking, fraud, assault, and homicide.
An indicted leader of the gang, Brawins Dominique Suarez Villegas, also known as "Chino San Vicente," faces separate racketeering charges in Colorado, including robbery, extortion, kidnapping, money laundering, and drug offenses. He is currently awaiting extradition from Colombia.