Two suspected members of the criminal gang Tren de Aragua who were living in New York City migrant shelters were recently busted in a gun and drug raid earlier this month. However, reports indicate that the two suspects were given lighter charges that could result in no prosecution.
According to reports, Jose Tamaronis-Caldera, 27, and Richard Garcia, 33, were arrested after a February 5 raid at an auto shop in New York City where authorities recovered firearms, other imitation weapons, and substantial quantities of drugs. The two are suspected of being involved with Tren de Aragua, but the New York Police Department could not confirm this.
Additionally, the owner of the Queens shop, Rafael Nieves, 54, was arrested. All three individuals faced felony drug and gun charges. However, reports suggest that Tamaronis-Caldera and Garcia faced lesser charges when the case was taken to court. Tamaronis-Caldera and Garcia are currently charged with two misdemeanors; possession of an air pistol or air rifle and possession of an imitation firearm. These charges allowed them to walk without bail.
Reportedly, the charges against these two will be dismissed in August if they do not commit additional crimes between now and then in accordance with an adjournment in contemplation of compliance (ACD) issued by the judge. Nieves had his drug and gun possession charges reduced as well, facing criminal possession of a firearm and imitation handgun as well as criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.
The Queens DA’s Office issued a statement on the matter, reading, “The DA’s office reviews all evidence and charges as warranted.” It added, “In this case, the weapon charge against defendant Nieves is for an unloaded firearm and is not bail-eligible. Our office asked for supervised release and the judge granted supervised release.”
Addressing the other two suspects, it added, “The charges against the other two defendants, Garcia and Tamaronis-Caldera, are for possession of an air pistol and are not bail eligible.” Authorities reported that Tamaronis-Caldera and Nieves live at the Crowne Plaza JFK Airport hotel, which was converted to a migrant shelter. Garcia was reported to live at the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan, which also serves as a migrant shelter.
One law enforcement official voiced his frustration with the suspects being let off on lesser charges. “These are not misguided individuals,” the source told the New York Post. “They’re documented members of a known violent criminal enterprise, a gang who has planted their flag here by entrenching themselves in narcotics, gun and human trafficking — and the best we can do is let them out?” They added, “If we did our jobs with criminals, we wouldn’t have ICE scouring our streets for detainees.”
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Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently celebrated clawing back of millions in funding for New York City that was supposedly given to the “Tren de Aragua base of operations.” She wrote on X, “I have clawed back the full payment that FEMA deep state activists unilaterally gave to NYC migrant hotels. FEMA was funding the Roosevelt Hotel that serves as a Tren de Aragua base of operations and was used to house Laken Riley’s killer. Mark my words: there will not be a single penny spent that goes against the interest and safety of the American people.”
Watch Noem expertly maneuver a recent CNN interview below: