8 Illegal Migrants Arrested, Accused Of Running Sex Trafficking Ring Tied To Tren De Aragua

Eight illegal immigrants from Venezuela were arrested for allegedly orchestrating a sex trafficking ring tied to the notorious Tren de Aragua gang, federal prosecutors said.

According to the New York Post, the suspects allegedly enticed women from Venezuela to come to Tennessee with promises of legitimate jobs, then forced them into prostitution to pay off steep travel debts, sometimes confiscating their children or immigration documents to ensure compliance.

“Once the victims were here and far from home … they were bullied, intimidated and threatened to have sex with total strangers,” acting United States attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Robert McGuire said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Five of the suspects were apprehended in Tennessee, while the remaining three were arrested in Texas.

Prosecutors said the trafficking operation was led by the mother-and-son pair of Yilibeth Del Carmen Rivero-Del Caldera and Klebier Daniel Mota Rivero, who allegedly wielded their connection to Tren de Aragua to coerce cooperation.

Officials noted all eight suspects were in the U.S. illegally. Klebier additionally faced a firearms charge for allegedly possessing a Glock 9mm pistol “knowing he was an alien illegally and unlawfully” in the country.

“We will not stand by and allow [Tren de Aragua] or any criminal organization to get a stronghold in Tennessee … We will hunt these bad actors down,” David B. Rausch, Director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, told reporters.

“We will dismantle them, and we will work with every tool that we have under the law to hold these violent criminals absolutely accountable for my fellow Tennesseans.”