Venezuelan Gang Members Arrested After 8-Hour Standoff Over Texas Jewelry Heist

Four alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua were arrested after a violent $75,000 jewelry heist in Northwest Dallas on September 21. The suspects reportedly attacked a woman in her garage, tied her up and stole valuable jewelry before fleeing the scene.

The suspects, Yean Brayhan Torralba, 20, Alberto Martinez Silva, 34, Manuel Hernandez-Hernandez, 28, and Wilmer Colmenares Gonzalez, 27, were tracked using surveillance footage and fingerprints from the crime scene. While three were arrested quickly, Gonzalez barricaded himself in a residence, leading to an eight-hour standoff with law enforcement before surrendering.

The Tren de Aragua gang has been expanding its criminal operations into the United States, especially as more of its members have crossed the border along with recent waves of migrants. The gang is involved in illegal activities such as human trafficking and drug smuggling.

Authorities believe the gang has used migrant shelters in cities like New York to launch criminal enterprises, including drug and weapons trafficking. This arrest has further underscored the growing presence of the gang in the U.S. and the potential dangers it poses to communities across the country.