An alleged Tren de Aragua leader was arrested in Los Angeles County, the Trump administration told Fox News. Yonaiker Gallegos was located by Homeland Security Investigations on April 22. He had been using the name Yonaiker(sic) Rafael Martinez-Ramos, which agents were able to determine the name was likely a fake identity, the outlet added.
Gallegos was in local custody on misdemeanor charges for blank checks and possession of a deceptive government ID. DHS agents confirmed his fake identity after obtaining information about the items in his possession when he was initially arrested.
Analysts were also able to locate his social media posts and pictures, which ultimately confirmed his real identity as Yonaiker Gallegos through facial recognition technology. A video he posted on his social media allegedly showed him flaunting grenades and a rifle.
Gallegos was arrested on April 25 for Title 8 (immigration) violations, according to Fox News. He was later identified "as a leader of TDA based in California."
The Trump administration is fixated on bringing down the Venezuelan gang, classifying it as a terrorist organization and claiming is being directed to wreak havoc in the country by Nicolas Maduro's authoritarian government. Intelligence assessments have disputed these claims.
Trump has particularly used the gang to justify extreme enforcement measures against Venezuelan immigrants and cast a cloud across the Venezuelan diaspora. Most notably, he invoked the wartime Alien Enemies Act, to swiftly deport hundreds of Venezuelan migrants it claims are part of the gang to a mega-prison in El Salvador known for its human rights abuses.
The president argues the criminal group "is undertaking hostile actions and conducting irregular warfare" in the U.S., which in turn should allow agents to arrest Venezuelans and exile them to Guantanamo Bay or El Salvador's CECOT prison without due process.
Last week, the Department of Justice charged for the first time an alleged high-ranking Tren de Aragua gang member with terrorism-related crimes. It remains unclear which charges will be brought against Gallegos.
The man recently charged was Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, 24, who the Department of Justice alleges is part of the "inner circle" of senior gang leadership, according to a news release. He also allegedly "caused the delivery" of cocaine for international distribution to further the gang's criminal goals, the department said.
"TdA is not a street gang— it is a highly structured terrorist organization that put down roots in our country during the prior administration," Attorney General Pam Bondi said. "Today's charges represent an inflection point in how this Department of Justice will prosecute and ultimately dismantle this evil organization, which has destroyed American families and poisoned our communities."
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