High-Ranking Member of Venezuelan Gang Tren De Aragua Arrested in Cobb County for Chicago Kidnapping and Murders

A coordinated law enforcement effort led by the U.S. Marshal Service (USMS) Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERFTF) has resulted in the arrest of Ricardo Gonzales, 32, a suspected high-ranking member of the Venezuelan street gang Tren De Aragua (TDA). Gonzales was apprehended in Cobb County, Georgia, yesterday and held on an arrest warrant from the Chicago Police Department for kidnapping. He is also wanted on probable cause for two counts of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

The charges against Gonzales stem from a horrific incident on January 28 in Chicago, where he allegedly kidnapped three women and took them to an alley. All three victims were shot in the head. Tragically, two of the women died at the scene, while the third survived, escaped, and called 911.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi commented on the arrest, stating, “This defendant’s crimes against American women are horrific, and he is exactly the type of Alien Enemy the Trump administration is fighting to remove from this country in order to make America safe again.”

USMS Acting Director Mark Pittella praised the collaborative effort, saying, “This case is a reflection of the tireless work the U.S. Marshal Service and partnering agencies put in to make sure justice has its day in court. Every arrest contributes to safer communities and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting the public.”

Gonzales is currently booked into a jail in Cobb County awaiting extradition to Chicago. During the arrest, authorities also took five additional individuals into custody, who were subsequently transferred to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) detention facilities.

The USMS’ SERFTF, established in 2003, works with numerous federal, state, and local agencies throughout Georgia and has apprehended nearly 47,000 fugitives since its inception.