A multi-agency task force arrested 16 members of the Venezuelan “Anti-Tren” gang in Houston, Texas, marking the largest FBI takedown yet of the offshoot criminal faction. The suspects, linked to the notorious Tren de Aragua terrorist group, face federal charges for drug trafficking, weapons offenses, and violent crimes, including a mass shooting.
Led by the FBI’s Houston Field Office in cooperation with DEA, ICE, U.S. Marshals, Texas DPS, and local law enforcement, the coordinated operation targeted criminal elements threatening both public safety and national security. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei described the case as directly implicating “securing our border and the eradication of violent crime.”
The Anti-Tren gang mirrors its parent organization in purpose, operating with the intent to consolidate power through violence and intimidation. Two separate federal complaints allege that 14 of the individuals conspired to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine. The group allegedly accepted $15,000 per shipment, with partial payment upfront.
The DOJ identified the suspects, mostly Venezuelan nationals, by name and age. They include Luis Miguel Claros Sarmiento, Dany Rojas, Ismael Leon Belbin, Cesar Velasquez, and others—many of whom were in the U.S. illegally.
Additional charges were filed against several for weapons offenses and illegal possession of ammunition. One of the accused, Jose Miguel Briceno, is believed to have participated in a mass shooting at a Houston sports bar in March that left six wounded, four critically. Briceno, reportedly in the country illegally, allegedly opened fire inside the bar and discarded the weapon afterward.
If convicted, several defendants face life in prison and fines up to $10 million. The firearms charges alone carry up to 15 years in federal prison.
The DOJ’s Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), originally formed to dismantle MS-13, has expanded under Attorney General Bondi to include enforcement against Tren de Aragua and its affiliates. The task force includes U.S. Attorneys from across the country and federal law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, DEA, ICE, and ATF.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams emphasized the impact of the bust: “These individuals are accused of engaging in a turf war with TdA members and carrying out numerous violent crimes throughout our city, including a mass shooting… Fortunately, these individuals are now in federal custody facing U.S. justice.”
