Federal Agents Use GPS Monitor To Raid Gang Hideout In The Bronx
Federal agents and NYPD officers raided a Bronx apartment earlier this month, arresting seven members of the Venezuelan-based Tren de Aragua gang. The operation followed GPS signals from an ankle monitor worn by one of the suspects, authorities said.
The raid occurred on Dec. 5 near Crotona Park and uncovered a group of illegal immigrants linked to the violent criminal organization. Among those detained was Jarwin Valero-Calderon, 28, whose ankle monitor led investigators to the location. Valero-Calderon has a history of arrests and had been ordered deported earlier this year, yet remained at large.
Law enforcement sources expressed frustration with the policies that allowed gang members like Valero-Calderon to stay in the U.S. despite multiple arrests and a deportation order. “The thing about ankle monitors is you have to actually monitor them to be effective,” said one source.
The raid dealt a blow to Tren de Aragua, a gang known for exploiting sanctuary cities and targeting migrant shelters to recruit new members. Authorities say the gang is involved in crimes such as drug smuggling, theft, and trafficking.
Among those arrested was Jhonaiker Alexander Gil Cardozo, 24, who has been arrested at least four times in two states. Another suspect, Jesus Manuel Quintero Granado, 30, was identified as a leader of the gang and has been arrested multiple times since entering the U.S.
The NYPD has been tracking the gang and its juvenile branch, “Diablos de la 42,” which has carried out robberies in Times Square. Many of these young members have avoided detention due to lenient criminal justice laws, according to authorities.
