Alleged Aurora, Colorado condo takeover by Venezuelan gang began in 2023: Report

A violent international gang from Venezuela reportedly took control of an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, for the first time late last year, according to a local report.

Members of the Tren de Aragua gang took over the Whispering Pines Apartments in 2023 and engaged in violent attacks, death threats, extortion, child prostitution and violent tactics, Denver law firm Perkins Coie wrote in a nine-page report to city officials obtained by CBS News Colorado.

The firm was hired to investigate the alleged gang takeover of the apartment building, the outlet said, and interviewed witnesses and reviewed video footage of the complex before issuing its report.

“The evidence we reviewed indicates that gang members are engaging in egregious violations of the domestic violence law, assault, human trafficking and sexual abuse of minors, illegal possession of weapons, extortion, and other criminal activities, often targeting vulnerable Venezuelan and other immigrant populations,” T. Markus Funk, a former U.S. attorney, wrote in the letter.

TREN DE ARAGUA GANG MEMBERS ARRESTED IN AURORA, COLORADO IN CONNECTION WITH APARTMENT BUILDING TAKEOVER: POLICE

Suspected members of the Tren de Aragua gang are accused of taking over apartment buildings in Aurora, Colorado, and charging rent in exchange for protection. (Edward Romero)

The company interviewed the apartment complex’s property manager, who said, “He had never seen anything like the acquisition of Whispering Pines by Tren De Aragua in his entire career.”

The property manager, who has 15 years of experience, told the company that two gang members were arrested because they “came to kill” him over an alleged late rent payment.

According to a resident, an apartment building was completely overrun by the alleged gang members, and the locks were also changed. (Councillor Danielle Jurinsky)

He also described how the gang collected “rent” from residents and allegedly stabbed one person for refusing to pay. In June, the gang members approached the property manager with an offer to help him if he paid the gang 50 percent of the rent they collected, the report said.

“This is our business plan,” a gang member reportedly told a housekeeper who spoke to the company. “If he (the property manager) doesn’t like it, we’ll shoot him full of bullets.”

Empty units in the apartment complex were used to host “parties” where the gang provided “drugs and child prostitution,” the property manager told investigators, adding that “minors are a good source of income.”

AURORA POLICE RESPOND TO ALLEGED PRESENCE OF VENEZUELAN GANG IN APARTMENTS: ‘THEY DIDN’T TAKE OVER’

Alleged gang activity at at least two apartment complexes in Aurora has garnered widespread attention in recent days after a surveillance camera went viral showing heavily armed men kicking in an apartment door.

The Tren de Aragua is mainly based in Venezuela and has approximately 5,000 members spread across the South American country and the United States.

Last week, Aurora police denied claims that members of the Tren de Aragua gang had taken over a complex, The Edge at Lowry. However, they did say that authorities were aware of the gang’s alleged criminal activity in the area.

The department announced in August that a special task force would be created to combat the presence of Tren de Aragua.

On Wednesday, police shared the names and photos of two documented members of the Tren de Aragua gang and two suspected members who were arrested in July for attempted murder.

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“I’m glad the @AuroraPD is finally starting to tell the truth and arrest people!” Aurora City Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky wrote on X. “The residents of Aurora deserve to feel safe!”

Jasmine Baehr of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.