Ankle Monitor Leads Feds Straight to the Action – What Happens Next Is Insane!

In a significant operation, federal agents stormed a Bronx apartment linked to the notorious Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang, apprehending seven suspects. This December 5 raid, orchestrated by Homeland Security Investigations and the NYPD, was made possible through the tracking of a GPS ankle monitor worn by one of the suspects.

The individual, identified as 28-year-old Venezuelan Jarwin Valero-Calderon, was already on law enforcement radar. “Better late than never,” remarked a source close to the investigation, criticizing the apparent leniency despite Valero-Calderon’s history of arrests, a conviction in Nassau County, and a deportation order. “The thing about ankle monitors is you have to actually monitor them to be effective,” the source added.

Tren de Aragua’s Expanding Reach

The operation dealt a blow to the violent TdA gang, which has steadily infiltrated the U.S., capitalizing on a surge of asylum-seeking migrants since 2022. Known for recruiting from migrant shelters, the gang has established a presence in New York City, engaging in crimes such as drug trafficking, theft, and human trafficking. Former Denver ICE chief John Fabbricatore described the gang’s strategy: “They’ve started to solidify themselves and then they throw tentacles out to multiple other locations where they think that they can continue to make money.”

Warranted Arrests and Troubled Histories

The suspects arrested in the raid had long criminal records. Jhonaiker Alexander Gil Cardozo, 24, was wanted for multiple crimes across states, including grand larceny and reckless endangerment. Cardozo’s record revealed four arrests since entering the U.S. in September 2022, culminating in charges spanning New York and South Carolina.

Another suspect, 30-year-old Jesus Manuel Quintero Granado, entered the U.S. in 2022 but was deported from Canada in 2023 after an asylum request was denied. Back in the U.S., he faced four arrests for crimes including shoplifting and larceny.

Meanwhile, Angel Gabriel Marquez Rodriguez, 19, was released after crossing the border in 2023 but swiftly accumulated charges in Chicago and New York. Similarly, 21-year-old Fernandez Franco Greymer De Dios evaded deportation after claiming fear of persecution but later disappeared, earning a deportation order in November.

A Troubled System and Lax Enforcement

Valero-Calderon, whose ankle monitor led authorities to the hideout, exemplified the system’s struggles. Released in 2022 after crossing the border, he amassed multiple convictions, including larceny and fraud, before evading deportation in April 2023. Despite his status as a fugitive, he remained free until this month’s raid.

The Tren de Aragua gang and its juvenile offshoot, “Diablos de la 42,” have exploited the gaps in the U.S. criminal justice system. The younger members, some as young as 11, have evaded detention despite involvement in crimes, including brazen heists in Times Square.

As federal agents dismantle this gang’s operations, questions linger about how these individuals evaded capture for so long. Fabbricatore’s blunt assessment captures the growing concerns: “I think people are finally starting to realize how bad the situation has gotten.”

The December 5 raid serves as both a victory against organized crime and a stark reminder of the challenges in monitoring and addressing the criminal activities tied to migrant networks in major cities.