Federal Authorities Unveil Major Charges Against Anti-Tren Faction of Tren de Aragua Across U.S.

A sweeping federal indictment has hit 27 members of the Anti-Tren faction, a violent offshoot of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua (TDA), with 38 charges ranging from racketeering conspiracy to sex trafficking and murder.

The announcement came from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) on February 13, 2026, detailing a sprawling criminal operation that extended from the Bronx and Queens to New Jersey, Illinois, and Washington state.

Of the 27 defendants, 21 were already facing previous charges, while six are newly added, five of whom are now in federal custody. The indictment highlights the extent to which this foreign criminal enterprise has entrenched itself in U.S. communities.

Anti-Tren: From Prison Gang to Transnational Criminal Network

Once a prison-based faction of TDA, Anti-Tren has grown into a violent, transnational criminal organization. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton described members as “bringing murder, intimidation, and sex trafficking to New York while being unlawfully present in the United States.”

Clayton emphasized that victims of Anti-Tren endured extreme trauma, often facing brutal violence and threats against themselves and their families to maintain control.

“These gangs corrupt neighborhoods, prey on the vulnerable, and pursue violence as a way of life,” Clayton said, signaling a federal commitment to dismantle the organization.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon echoed these sentiments, stressing that Anti-Tren represents one of the fastest-growing transnational threats to American communities.

“We are committed to ensuring that no corners of the TdA and Anti-Tren enterprises are beyond the reach of justice,” he said.

Criminal Activities and Methods

The S4 indictment portrays Anti-Tren as highly organized, with operations designed to protect the faction’s power, expand criminal profits, and intimidate victims. The crimes include:

• Murder and violent enforcement: Members committed murders in aid of racketeering, including the April 15, 2024, double homicide in the Bronx. They also carried out targeted “punishment” shootings against their own members to enforce discipline.

• Kidnapping and human trafficking: Young women, often referred to as “multadas,” were smuggled from Venezuela and coerced into sex work to pay debts. Compliance was enforced through threats, assaults, and abductions.

• Drug trafficking and armed robberies: Controlled substances, including tusi, were distributed, and members engaged in gunpoint robberies targeting individuals and drug traffickers.

• Organized intimidation and witness tampering: Anti-Tren actively threatened witnesses and used violence to prevent law enforcement intervention or prosecution.

Former members of Tren de Aragua who formed Anti-Tren operated across multiple U.S. states, demonstrating how quickly the faction transitioned from a regional prison gang to a nationwide criminal enterprise.

Notable Cases Highlighted in the Indictment

The indictment specifies several high-profile and violent incidents:

• Bronx double murder (April 15, 2024): Jhombeyker Jose Bisbal Pina and Adrian Mendoza Isturiz were gunned down by faction members.

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• Murder-for-hire conspiracies (2025): Several plots targeting individuals in New York and Florida were allegedly orchestrated by Anti-Tren members.

• Gang punishment shootings: Members were shot in the legs as disciplinary measures within the organization.

• Sex trafficking operations: Two young women from Venezuela were coerced into sex work under threat of violence.

• Robberies and armed home invasions: Anti-Tren conducted robberies in Yonkers and the Bronx, targeting families and other criminal operators.

These incidents demonstrate the organization’s range of violent tactics, from controlling victims to resolving internal disputes and eliminating competition.

A Nationwide Law Enforcement Effort

The S4 indictment is part of a larger initiative known as Operation Take Back America, which coordinates federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat transnational criminal organizations.

Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), established in 2019 initially to target MS-13, now prioritizes Tren de Aragua and its factions.

The investigation drew on resources from multiple federal agencies, including:

• FBI, DEA, and ATF

• HSI enforcement teams in New York, Chicago, and Seattle

• U.S. Marshals Service regional task forces

• NYPD’s Computer Crimes Unit and Crime Analysis Center

• Local law enforcement partners across several states

The collaboration reflects a comprehensive, “whole of government” approach to dismantle complex criminal networks operating within the United States.

Justice and Accountability

While the indictment paints a picture of widespread and organized criminality, the Department of Justice notes that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

Maximum potential penalties under federal law are significant, but sentencing will ultimately be determined by judges.

The scale of the investigation also underscores the U.S. government’s determination to protect communities from violent transnational gangs, particularly those exploiting vulnerable individuals for sex trafficking, drug operations, and intimidation.

What’s Next?

The court proceedings for the 27 Anti-Tren members will unfold in the Southern District of New York.

Federal prosecutors are expected to present extensive evidence from both U.S. and international investigations. Meanwhile, law enforcement continues to pursue other members and associates of TDA and Anti-Tren nationwide.

Beyond court, authorities emphasize prevention and community protection, reinforcing that dismantling such networks requires ongoing intelligence gathering, prosecutions, and interagency cooperation.

Operation Take Back America continues to marshal resources against transnational gangs and cartels, aiming to curb violence, human trafficking, and other forms of organized crime in American cities.

Summary

Federal prosecutors in New York have unsealed a sweeping 38-count indictment against 27 members of the Anti-Tren faction of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua (TDA).

The charges, including racketeering, murder, sex trafficking, kidnapping, and armed robbery, stem from crimes committed in New York, New Jersey, and other states.

The indictment reflects a coordinated law enforcement effort to dismantle this violent transnational gang and bring its members to justice.