Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, a 42-year-old Venezuelan national, has been indicted in a New York federal court on multiple charges, including racketeering conspiracy and providing support to terrorists.
Authorities allege that he played a pivotal role in transforming the Tren de Aragua gang from a prison-based group into a significant transnational criminal organization. The U.S. State Department has offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest.
The indictment claims that Guerrero Flores oversaw a criminal network that engaged in extensive violence, drug trafficking, extortion, and arms dealing across North and South America, as well as in Europe.
Prosecutors have linked the gang to numerous violent crimes, including murders, violent robberies, sex trafficking, and narcotics trafficking within the United States. Additionally, Guerrero Flores is accused of laundering money through cryptocurrency and managing the gang as a multinational syndicate from prison.
The Department of Justice has launched a nationwide crackdown on the Tren de Aragua gang, resulting in indictments against over 70 individuals in five U.S. Attorney offices, particularly in the Southern District of New York. Since January 20, 2025, more than 260 gang members have been federally indicted.
Authorities have highlighted the gang’s substantial threat, comparing its impact to that of insurgent and terrorist organizations. The ongoing investigation and the resulting charges mark a determined effort to dismantle the gang’s operations and hold its leaders accountable. Guerrero Flores remains at large as authorities pursue efforts to capture him and further disrupt the gang’s activities.
Leave a comment