NYPD Detective Bureau Assistant Chief Jason Savino emphasizes the importance of imposing stricter penalties for criminal behavior.
Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan prison gang known as Train of Aragua, is causing chaos with a series of robberies in New York City. Surprisingly, its young members are managing to evade imprisonment time and time again.
According to Detective Bureau Assistant Chief Jason Savino of the NYPD, juvenile illegal immigrants in the gang have been carrying out attacks on individuals in iconic locations such as Times Square in New York City.
However, these perpetrators are able to evade punishment due to the lenient laws regarding juvenile crime in the state of New York.
Savino expressed his shock and emphasized the progression he has observed with this particular group during an interview with “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday morning.
According to a report by the New York Post, the former Roosevelt Hotel has been transformed into a migrant shelter to accommodate the suspects, some of whom are as young as 11. This move comes in response to a surge in border crossings occurring thousands of miles away.
A group of suspected juvenile Tren de Aragua members, believed to be operating from the Roosevelt Hotel, have been reportedly engaging in a series of robberies in Times Square. A still image from a video shared on social media captures these individuals in action. (Image courtesy: New York Post)
Investigators have found that the suspected gang members have been sharing pictures and videos of their guns online.
The Roosevelt Hotel, located on 45th Street, temporarily closed its doors in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it has since reopened as a migrant shelter. Another neighboring hotel, Row NYC, is also facing similar circumstances.
Unfortunately, there have been reports of loitering migrants engaging in drug and alcohol use outside both establishments, contributing to what some have described as a migrant-fueled “crime wave” in the city.
According to Savino, this is the initial organized group that they have discovered. This group consists of approximately 20 individuals who regularly gather and interact on social media. They take pride in their association and often brag about their crew. These groups can be observed in various locations, including Times Square and nearby shelters.
According to Savino, a total of 20 individuals from a specific faction within the gang, known as “Los Diablos de lat 42,” referencing New York’s 42nd Street, have been apprehended in relation to 50 distinct criminal incidents.
He emphasized that those who actively participate in such criminal activities gain a sense of empowerment.
In what are known as “wolfpack robberies,” the most severe attacks occur when a group of five or more suspects encircle tourists and forcibly take their belongings. These incidents can include the use of guns or knives.
Savino said that despite the challenges they face in keeping juvenile suspects incarcerated, his team remains committed to making arrests and gathering evidence.
“We are known as the greatest detectives in the world for a good reason,” he informed Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade. “When faced with frustration, we don’t give up. Instead, we regroup and strive to build even stronger cases.”
According to city officials, nearly 200,000 asylum-seeking migrants have made their way to the Big Apple in the past year. It is anticipated that over half of them will have their claims rejected. However, until their claims are denied, these individuals are still considered to be legally present in the United States.
Earlier this year, the gang was held responsible for a significant increase in cellphone and purse robberies in New York City.
The Tren de Aragua, also known as TdA, originated within the confines of a Venezuelan prison and later expanded its reach to various regions in South and Central America before eventually infiltrating the United States.
The criminal organization has a history of recruiting members from migrant shelters, and more recently, they have faced accusations of recruiting children from middle schools in Texas.