The owner of a Texas hotel faces legal action due to alleged violent criminal activity involving suspected members of the Venezuelan gang Tren De Aragua, which has been under the spotlight in the run-up to the 2024 election.
The conditions inside the El Paso premises are described in court documents as deplorable. Video evidence presented in court shows individuals apparently partying in hotel hallways, using weapons, and engaging in violence in front of children.
Footage also appears to show at least one gun being fired, a weapon being used to threaten others, men wielding knives, and a man with a hatchet assaulting people and damaging hotel property, all in the presence of a security guard. Pictures from security footage also apparently show an aggravated assault on June 16, 2024.
Newsweek has reached to the hotel and El Paso District Attorney’s office for comment
The video evidence adds to the spotlight on the gang’s activities after footage emerged online of Tren De Aragua storming an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, and Donald Trump said at a presidential campaign rally Friday that the locality had been “overrun.”
The El Paso hotel has been hit with a temporary injunction and restraining order by the County Attorney following allegations of the Venezuelan crime syndicate’s suspected activity, and reports of alleged prostitution.
A petition filed by C.A. Christina Sanchez targets the Gateway Hotel at 104 S. Stanton in downtown El Paso and its owner, Howard Yun, over abatement of a common nuisance and an application for a temporary restraining order, a temporary injunction.
El Paso Country
Court documents seen by Newsweek show that over the past two years, police have received 693 calls to investigate criminal activity within the hotel.
Documents allege that the hotel has been operating for six years without a valid certificate of occupancy, which violates city regulations. Furthermore, the building is said to have failed at least three inspections by the El Paso Fire Department since July.
El Paso County
The legal action aims to address these issues, as the hotel has allegedly become a hub for illegal activities which pose significant safety risks to the community. Despite the owner’s initial certificate of occupancy issued in May 2018, it appears to have expired in November of the same year, and no new certificate has been issued since.
According to court documents, the hotel “has habitual criminal activity.” Several people in the hotel had tattoos associated with the Venezuelan Tren De Aragua crime syndicate, according to a police report. Drug use, thefts, burglaries, and fights were among the calls made to police regarding the hotel.
And one officer noted the “continuous incidents of criminal activity” have increased since the Tren De Aragua organization began operating in the hotel.
With at least 5,000 members, Tren de Aragua is Venezuela’s biggest organized crime group, involved in trafficking humans and drugs, kidnappings, and money laundering.
Formed in an Aragua state prison around 15 years ago. Its tentacles now reach Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Panama, Costa Rica and the U.S.
Kelvin Bass, communications director for Texas state Senator Royce West, told Newsweek: “A source of drugs, some gang-related violence, and possibly human trafficking anywhere in Texas could be somewhat tied to cartels and gangs.
“Immigration requires a comprehensive approach that would be initiated by Congress, but Texas should not be silent regarding issues at its southern border.”
It comes after the mayor of Aurora, Colorado, who was thrown into the spotlight over a video showing violence carried out by Venezuelan gang members, told Newsweek that his town is not overrun and that the situation has been used to score political pants.
“I certainly have concerns about the border, I have concerns about immigration policy, but from what I can see now, it seems to have an exaggerated importance,” Mayor Michael Coffman said.
Rep. Tony Gonzales recently told Newsweek: “These Venezuelan gangs are pure evil, and they will rot any society, any community that they associate themselves with.”
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