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Statement Regarding Tren de Aragua

Click HERE for a statement issued by Mayor, Council Member addressing gang concerns.

Statement Regarding Tren de Aragua
Posted on 08/29/2024

(Aug. 28, 2024) The city and Aurora Police Department, as we previously stated, established a special task force in collaboration with other local, state and federal partners to specifically address concerns about Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) and other criminal activity affecting migrant communities. We are grateful that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), a valuable federal partner, has acknowledged its ongoing work into TdA across the metro and appreciate the additional resources it provides to combat this issue.

We are aware that components of TdA are operating in Aurora. APD has been increasingly collecting evidence to show the gang is connected to crimes in the area. However, as we have said previously and as the DEA similarly stated, it would be improper at this time for the city and APD to make any conclusory statements about specific incidents or provide details about law enforcement strategy and operations.

Based on our initial investigative work, we believe reports of TdA influence in Aurora are isolated. We urge all community members, including members of our migrant communities, to please report crimes committed against them to their local law enforcement agencies and not remain silent victims. Crime victims can report crimes anonymously by calling Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867).

As always, information could change as the investigations continue at the local, state and federal levels.



(Aug. 30, 2024) We have received specific questions from the public about Jhonardy Jose Pacheco-Chirinos also known as “Cookie” or “Galleta.” We previously announced his arrest in connection to a July 28 shooting. We are able to confirm Pacheco-Chirinos, 22, pictured here, is a documented member of Tren de Aragua (TdA). The department is not aware of his status within the gang. He is currently in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

On July 28, 2024, at about 4:30 a.m., APD officers responded to a report of shots fired outside of 1568 Nome St. When they arrived, they found two adult males suffering from gunshot wounds. A third adult male was found with a broken ankle. Officers arrested Pacheco-Chirinos soon thereafter.

APD had previously arrested Pacheco-Chirinos in March 2024 for an aggravated assault at 1568 Nome St. that happened in November 2023. He later bonded out.

Pacheco-Chirinos has been in ICE custody since his second arrest on July 28.

In the coming days, we will provide a more comprehensive, public update with additional, accurate information about this criminal group and its affiliates.

APD continues to proactively and fully investigate criminal activity and its possible connections to criminal organizations and their members. Officers have been consistently monitoring areas of concern. We understand the distress our community is feeling, and we want to provide reassurance that we are committed to keeping our community safe and putting criminals in jail.



Booking photo of arrested

AURORA POLICE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMS SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR SHOOTING IN JULY ON NOME STREET HAVE GANG TIES

(Sept. 4, 2024) On July 29, the Aurora Police Department arrested Jhonnarty Dejesus Pacheco-Chirinos, age 24, for attempted murder and other charges related to an attempted homicide on July 28 on Nome Street. We can now confirm that he is a documented member of Tren de Aragua (TdA). He is the brother of Jhonardy Jose Pacheco-Chirinos, also known as “Cookie” or “Galleta.” After working with our local, state and federal partners, we are now able to share those gang-related connections. Both Jhonnarty and Jhonardy remain in ICE custody.

Additionally, two others who were arrested on that same day are suspected gang members. Their names are Dixon Azuaje-Perez, age 20, and Nixon Azuaje-Perez, age 19. Both were arrested for tampering with evidence in the July 28 shooting on Nome Street. These two have gang ties and are suspected to be members of TdA.

Any presence of criminal activity, including gang activity, will not be tolerated. The Aurora Police Department will continue to fight crime; we will find and arrest those responsible.

TdA Arrests

Aurora Police Identifies Known Tren de Aragua Members


(Sept. 11, 2024) – The Aurora Police Department has been actively investigating reports that members of a Venezuelan prison gang, Tren de Aragua, have been living in Aurora and committing acts of violence against members of the migrant community. Below is a summary of documented members of TdA known to Aurora police and reflects APD’s actions and authority alone.

Additional information about the cases can be obtained from the appropriate clerk of court’s office. For information about custody status, contact the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the county jails or refer to Colorado court records.

Larry Medina 
5/29/1995

Larry Medina was arrested July 10 by Aurora police in connection with a July 2 felony menacing at Whispering Pines Condominiums, 1357 Helena Street. The victim reported to police Medina pointed a firearm and threatened to kill them.

Court: Arapahoe District Court
Case #: 24CR1631
Charges: Felony menacing 
Attempted second-degree burglary x2
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Gang Affiliation: Documented member of TdA.


Jhonardy Pacheco-Chirinos 
12/25/2001 

Jhonardy Pacheco-Chirinos was arrested March 28 by Aurora police on a first-degree assault warrant out of Adams District Court. The warrant stemmed from an assault in November 2023 at Fitzsimons Place apartments, 1568 Nome St.

Jhonardy also is suspected of being involved in the July 28 nonfatal shooting at Fitzsimons Place apartments and was arrested in connection with that case on July 29. His involvement in the shooting remains under investigation.

Court: Adams District Court
Case #: 24CR709 (November case)
Charges: First-degree assault 
Second-degree assault x2

Court: Adams District Court
Case #: PENDING (July case)
Charges: PENDING 

Gang Affiliation: Documented member of TdA. 


Jhonnarty Dejesus Pacheco-Chirinos 
12/28/1999 

Jhonnarty Dejesus Pacheco-Chirinos was arrested July 29 by Aurora police in connection with a nonfatal shooting the day before at Fitzsimons Place apartments, 1568 Nome St. 

Court: Adams District Court
Case #: 24CR2388
Charges: Attempted first-degree murder x2 
First-degree aggravated assault 
Illegal discharge of a firearm x2 
Reckless endangerment 

Gang Affiliation: Documented member of TdA.


Luis Miguel Calzadilla-Rojas 
12/30/1991

Luis Miguel Calzadilla-Rojas was arrested the evening of Jan. 3 by Aurora police in connection with a nonfatal shooting that occurred earlier in the day in front of the Arapahoe County Probation Office, 15400 E. 14th Place.  

Court: Arapahoe District Court
Case #: 24CR32
Charges: Attempted first-degree murder 
Accessory to a homicide 
Attempt to influence a public servant 

Gang Affiliation: Documented member of TdA.


Yorman Camilo Sangronis-Garcia
11/25/1997

Yorman Camilo Sangronis-Garcia was involved in a consensual contact with Aurora police about a report of a hit-and-run crash on Feb. 4 at Whispering Pines Condominiums, 15423 E. 13th Ave. Sangronis-Garcia has not been involved in any other contacts with Aurora police.

Gang Affiliation: Documented member of TdA.


Yoendry Vilchez Medina-Jose 
2/1/1991 

Yoendry Vilchez Medina-Jose was arrested Aug. 5 by the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant out of Arapahoe District Court. The warrant stemmed from an assault in November 2023 at Whispering Pines Condominiums, 1357 Helena St.

Court: Arapahoe District Court
Case #: 24CR1617
Charges: Felony menacing x2
Third-degree assault x2

Gang Affiliation: Documented member of TdA. 


Juan Carlos Mejia-Espana 
01/15/1997

Juan Carlos Mejia-Espana was arrested March 17 by Aurora police following a domestic dispute with a weapon at Whispering Pines Condominiums, 15483 E. 13th Ave.

Court: Arapahoe District Court
Case #: 24CR650
Charges: Second-degree kidnapping   
Felony menacing x2
False imprisonment 
Third-degree assault x2
Child abuse 
Domestic Violence Enhancer 

Gang Affiliation: Documented member of TdA.


Carlos Aranguren-Mayora
06/07/2001

Carlos Aranguren-Mayora has had numerous encounters with Aurora police officers and law enforcement agencies throughout the metro area. He faces a total of 38 charges in five active court cases in Adams, Arapahoe and Boulder district courts for crimes dating to December 2023.

Court: Arapahoe District Court
Case #: 24CR1369
Charges: Robbery
Theft $5,000 to $20,000

Court: Arapahoe District Court
Case #: 24CR1197
Charges: Second-degree burglary x2
Felony menacing x4
Theft
Criminal mischief

Court: Arapahoe District Court
Case #: 24CR1188
Charges: First-degree burglary x5
First-degree kidnapping x3
Second-degree kidnapping x2
Felony menacing x2
Robbery
Aggravated robbery
Motor Vehicle Theft

Court: Boulder District Court
Case #: 24CR885
Charges:   Theft $20,000 to $100,000 x2

Court: Adams District Court
Case #: 23CR3944
Charges: Felony menacing x2
Criminal mischief x2
Obstruction

Gang Affiliation: Documented member of TdA.


Roiberth Daniel Mora-Marquez 
10/14/2000

Roiberth Daniel Mora-Marquez was arrested April 17 by Aurora police in connection with an April 4 dispute and assault over unpaid rent money in the 1600 block of Lima Street. Mora-Marquez also is a suspect in nonfatal shooting on June 28 in the 400 block of Nile Street.

Court: Adams District Court
Case #: 24CR1190 (April case)
Charges: Aggravated first-degree assault
Second-degree kidnapping
Third-degree assault
Felony menacing

Court: Arapahoe District Court
Case #: 24CR2056 (June case)
Charges: Felony menacing
Illegal discharge of a firearm
Harassment
Reckless endangerment

Gang Affiliation: Documented member of TdA.


Jose Miguel Reyes-Perez 
11/12/1993

Jose Miguel Reyes-Perez was arrested May 22 by Aurora police on an outstanding traffic warrant out of Adams County. Reyes-Perez bonded and was released. He is currently wanted on a warrant for failing to appear in court for an aggravated assault, menacing and motor vehicle theft case in Jefferson District Court. 

Court: Jefferson District Court
Case #: 24CR588
Charges: Aggravated assault
Felony menacing
Motor vehicle theft

Gang Affiliation: Documented member of TdA.



Booking photos of documented TdA members known to APD

Aurora Police Announces Warrants, Arrest in 12th and Dallas Investigation

One Suspect in Custody, Two Outstanding in Connection with August Viral Video

(Sept. 20, 2024) – The Aurora Police Department on Friday announced it has identified and obtained warrants for three men involved in the Aug. 18 shooting near 12th Avenue and Dallas Street, and who appeared in a security video that last month garnered international media attention.

On Thursday, Sept. 12, Aurora police submitted arrest warrants to the Arapahoe District Court for Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, 25, Niefred Jose Serpa-Acosta, 20, and Naudi Lopez-Fernandez, 21, on charges of first-degree burglary and menacing with a firearm, both felonies.

Lopez-Fernandez is in custody. Aurora police is actively searching for Zambrano-Pacheco and Serpa-Acosta with the assistance of local, state and federal partners.

The warrants and charges stem from about 11:30 p.m. Aug. 18, when Aurora police officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 1200 block of Dallas Street. About 10 minutes before the shooting, six armed men, including five armed with handguns and one armed with a rifle, knocked on the doors of two apartments, unlawfully entered those apartments and threatened the residents with firearms.

The burglary and menacing offenses were captured on surveillance video, which was obtained by the Aurora Police Department during the initial, on scene investigation into the shooting. It is the same video that was later shared with local, national and international news outlets.

Within 12 hours of the shooting, Aurora police investigators obtained a search warrant for another neighboring apartment. A rifle matching the one depicted in the video was recovered during the search of the apartment.

One person, 25-year-old Oswaldo Jose Dabion Araujo, was fatally wounded during the Aug. 18 shooting. The Aurora Police Department Major Crime Homicide Unit is leading the investigation into the fatal shooting. That investigation is active and ongoing.

The Aurora Police Department and its local, state and federal partners continue to work to identify the three remaining, unknown armed men depicted in the surveillance video as part of a large-scale, multi-jurisdictional operation known as “Safe Haven.” At this time, none of the six men have been connected to an organized criminal organization.

Multiple investigations into the events of Aug. 18 remain active and ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.

Joe Moylan
Public Information Officer
720.432.5095
AP24-173823


Sept. 20 News Conference About 12th and Dallas Investigation


Suspects from Viral 12th and Dallas Video

Booking photos

APD IDs, Seeks Warrants for 3 More Suspects in Viral Dallas Street Video

(Sept. 25, 2024) – The Aurora Police Department announced Wednesday it has identified the three remaining suspects from the viral Aug. 18 security camera video from an apartment complex located near 12th Avenue and Dallas Street.

On Friday, Aurora police Chief Todd Chamberlain hosted a news conference to update the community about the investigation, known as Operation Safe Haven. As of the time of the news conference, the department had identified three of the six armed men seen in the video knocking on apartment doors minutes before a fatal shooting in the 1200 block of Dallas Street.

One of those three suspects, Naudi Lopez-Fernandez, 21, is in custody. There are active arrest warrants on charges of first-degree burglary and menacing with a firearm for Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, 25, and Niefred Jose Serpa-Acosta, 20, who are not yet in custody.

Since last week’s news conference, investigators have positively identified the three remaining suspects featured in the video. Arrest warrants for two of those three are being written and will soon be submitted to the Arapahoe District Court. Investigators are building additional facts about the third remaining suspect in anticipation that a warrant for his arrest will be filed in the future.

The department is not immediately identifying the three suspects or their charges. The information contained in this release will be updated as soon as the warrants are signed by a district court judge and activated in the Colorado State Courts records management system.

“This investigation is and has been of great interest to the community and the media,” said Aurora police Chief Todd Chamberlain. “Although the investigation is ongoing, we want to share what we can with the community to ensure the steady release of factual information as part of our dedication to transparency, public safety and, most importantly, community service.”

The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.

Joe Moylan
Public Information Officer
720.432.5095
AP24-173823


Aurora Police Gang Intervention Unit Arrests Wanted TdA Gang Member

(Sept. 26, 2024) – The Aurora Police Department on Wednesday arrested a documented Tren de Aragua gang member wanted on two outstanding warrants.

Roiberth Daniel Mora-Marquez, 23, was arrested Wednesday night by the Aurora Police Department Gang Intervention Unit. Mora-Marquez was wanted on two active warrants out of Adams and Arapahoe district courts.

Mora-Marquez is charged in Adams District Court with aggravated first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, third-degree assault and felony menacing. The charges stem from an April 4 dispute and assault over unpaid rent money in the 1600 block of Lima Street.

Aurora police arrested Mora-Marquez on April 17 in connection with the Lima Street investigation. He posted $20,000 bond in that case. A warrant for Mora-Marquez’s arrest was later issued when he failed to appear in court.

Mora-Marquez also was arrested on an active warrant out of Arapahoe District Court on charges of felony menacing, illegal discharge of a firearm, harassment and reckless endangerment. The charges stem from a June 28 nonfatal shooting in the 400 block of Nile Street.

Mora-Marquez is one of the 10 documented TdA gang members the Aurora Police Department released information about earlier this month. As of Thursday afternoon, Mora-Marquez was in custody at the Aurora Detention Center on a no bond hold.

The investigations are active and ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.

Joe Moylan
Public Information Officer
720.432.5095
AP24-69220
AP24-122758

Roiberth Daniel Mora-Marquez Booking Photo


District Judge Signs Warrants for 2 More 12th and Dallas Suspects

(Oct. 1, 2024) – An Arapahoe District Court judge signed late Monday afternoon arrest warrants for two more suspects involved in the Aug. 18 shooting near 12th Avenue and Dallas Street, and who appeared in a viral security camera video that garnered international media attention.

The warrants were written and submitted to the courts by Aurora Police Department investigators assigned to Operation Safe Haven, which is tasked with investigating crimes against Aurora’s migrant community. The warrants are now active for Edilson Yoel Pena-Angulo, 25, and Danyeer Aramillo-Meneses, 23, on charges of first-degree burglary and menacing with a firearm, both felonies.

A total of six armed men were featured in the Aug. 18 security camera video knocking on apartment doors about 10 minutes before a fatal shooting in the 1200 block of Dallas Street. All six suspects have been positively identified.

One of those suspects, Naudi Lopez-Fernandez, 21, is in custody. Operation Safe Haven investigators are actively searching for the outstanding suspects with the assistance of local, state and federal law enforcement partners.

Investigators continue to build additional facts about the sixth remaining suspect in anticipation that a warrant for his arrest will be filed in the future. The sixth remaining suspect will be identified once a warrant for his arrest has been signed by a judge and activated in the Colorado State Courts records management system.

At this time, none of the six suspects have been connected to any criminal organization. The information contained in this release will continue to be updated as additional progress is made in the investigation.

Joe Moylan
Public Information Officer
720.432.5095
AP24-173823

Edilson Yoel Pena-Angulo photo
Edilson Yoel Pena-Angulo

Danyeer Aramillo-Meneses photo
Danyeer Aramillo-Meneses


Warrant Active for 6th Suspect in 12th and Dallas Investigation

(Oct. 2, 2024) – An arrest warrant is now active for the sixth and final suspect featured in an Aug. 18 viral security camera video that was recorded moments before a fatal shooting in the 1200 block of Dallas Street.

On Wednesday, an Arapahoe District Court judge approved an arrest warrant for Adan Jose Ramirez-Sanchez, 37, on charges of first-degree burglary and menacing with a firearm, both felonies. The warrants were written and submitted to the courts by Aurora Police Department investigators assigned to Operation Safe Haven, which is tasked with investigating crimes against Aurora’s migrant community.

A total of six armed men were featured in the Aug. 18 security camera video knocking on apartment doors about 10 minutes before a fatal shooting in the 1200 block of Dallas Street. All six suspects have been positively identified and face felony charges of first-degree burglary and menacing. One suspect is in custody. Five are outstanding.

The suspects include:

• Naudi Lopez-Fernandez – In custody
• Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco – Wanted
• Niefred Jose Serpa-Acosta – Wanted
• Edilson Yoel Pena-Angulo – Wanted
• Danyeer Aramillo-Meneses – Wanted
• Adan Jose Ramirez-Sanchez – Wanted

At this time, none of the six suspects have been connected to any criminal organization. However, that piece of the investigation is ongoing. Operation Safe Haven investigators are actively searching for the wanted suspects with the assistance of local, state and federal law enforcement partners.

Additionally, the Aurora Police Department Major Crime Homicide Unit is leading the investigation into the connected Aug. 18 fatal shooting, which is active and ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.

The information contained in this release will continue to be updated as additional progress is made in the investigations.

Joe Moylan
Public Information Officer
720.432.5095
AP24-173823

Adan Jose Ramirez-Sanchez photo 1
Adan Jose Ramirez-Sanchez photo 3
Adan Jose Ramirez-Sanchez photo 2
Adan Jose Ramirez-Sanchez


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