Last week, Adelvis Rodriguez-Carmona, a member of the Tren de Aragua gang, was arrested in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Authorities caught him managing a sex trafficking operation from a local hotel.
According to the New York Post, His detention concluded a series of crimes that spanned New York and Chicago, encompassing theft, shootings, and drug offenses.
This operation drew upon the collaborative efforts of several agencies including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Chattanooga Police Department, and Homeland Security. Rodriguez-Carmona faces multiple charges stemming from these collaborations.
The charges lodged against him include patronizing prostitution and having possession of illegal substances like marijuana, Xanax, crack cocaine, and unauthorized weaponry. These accusations highlight a problematic legal history for the Venezuelan as he managed to elude several prior captures and deportations.
Adelvis Rodriguez-Carmona illegally entered the United States near Eagle Pass, Texas back in July 2022 and was quickly released by border agents. Failure to attend court led to the issuance of a deportation order in July 2023.
Further encounters with law enforcement included an arrest in February 2023 in New York City for allegations of shoplifting where he again missed his subsequent court appearance. In the following year, he surfaced in Chicago related to a drive-by shooting incident, only to be released afterward.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took him into custody in March 2024. He was placed in a Wisconsin detention center but managed to secure another release, only to resume his part in dangerous crimes.
Assistant field office director Raymond Hernandez of ERO Chicago commented on Rodriguez Carmona's behaviors and affiliations before he was apprehended:
This Venezuelan noncitizen represented a significant threat to the residents of our communities. Not only is he a validated member of a transnational street gang, but he also displayed a willingness to unlawfully discharge a firearm in public. ERO Chicago will continue to prioritize public safety by removing such threats from our streets.
While the arrest deals a blow to the gang’s operations, investigations continue to track down remaining active members across at least 16 states.
The extensive case remains active, as confirmed by Mike Meares, a public affairs officer at Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, highlighting the complexity and severity of this transnational crime network.
"The case is part of an active and ongoing investigation," said Meares, indicating that the authorities are still piecing together numerous facets of the criminal operations led by Tren de Aragua.
David Rausch, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, stressed the nationwide challenge posed by such gangs:
If they get into an area where they feel like they are able to operate without impunity, then they will start to dig their heels in, as we have seen in some of the other communities.
Currently, Rodriguez-Carmona is held on a $125,000 bond in Hamilton County as he awaits further legal proceedings.
