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Queens prosecutors charge 10 alleged Tren de Aragua members in multistate gun bust
By
Charles Lane
Published Jan 29, 2025
Modified Jan 29, 2025
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Samantha Max / Gothamist
By
Charles Lane
Published Jan 29, 2025
Modified Jan 29, 2025
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Queens prosecutors have indicted 10 people they say are part of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, alleging they took part in a gun trafficking operation that brought 34 illegal guns to New York from other states.
A special grand jury indicted two alleged leaders of the group, 25-year-old Enyerbert Blanco and 27-year-old Wrallan Meza, with selling and possessing illegal firearms. They potentially face 25 years in prison, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
Eight others were charged with helping Blanco and Meza buy, traffic and sell weapons that prosecutors say ranged from handguns that sold for $1,200 to assault rifles that sold for $2,800. According to Katz, these weapons were sold in the open street in daylight.
Their attorney and plea information wasn’t immediately available.
“They bought from friendly states, brought them here to sell,” Katz said at a news conference. “ This group was very entrepreneurial. They really made sure that this business was run like a clock.”
The number of shootings in New York has fallen, according to police statistics. Still, New York has long struggled with the trafficking of firearms from states with looser purchasing restrictions.
Police say the Venezuelan gang Tren De Aragua is responsible for various thefts and other attacks. Wednesday’s series of arrests and charges is one of the first major takedowns of the group.
“ This group was very open in its dealings,” Katz said. “In one instance, the defendant transported an AR-15 wrapped in a black garbage bag for sale in Bronx County. This buy occurred in the afternoon, 3:45 in the afternoon in front of a residential building.”
According to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, there are 67 members of Tren de Aragua in a database used by police. He said the group first appeared in New York City in 2023.
“ [They] participated mostly in organized retail theft and in robberies where they utilize scooters to either forcibly steal or snatch cell phones,” Kenny said at the news conference.
He added that the 10 people indicted Wednesday were Venezuelan and illegally entered the United States through its southern border.
According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, three of the 10 people indicted were arrested in New York, five were arrested in other states, while two more are still at large.
Katz said all 10 of the defendants would stand trial in Queens.
This story has been updated with additional details about the case.
Tagged
queens
public safety
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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