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United States of America v. Luis Fernando Uribe-Torrealba, Luis Henriquez-Charaima
Date: 08-18-2025
Case Number: 1:25-cr-00233
Judge: Regina M. Rodriguez
Court: The United States District Court for the District of Colorado (Denver County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in Denver
Defendant's Attorney: Click Here For The Best Denver, Colorado Criminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory
Description:
Thirty Charged in Sweeping Federal Case Targeting Tren de Aragua Members and Associates for Drug Trafficking, Murder-for-Hire, and Firearms Crimes
Two federal indictments charged 30 individuals, including several alleged leaders and members of designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA), with drug trafficking, murder-for-hire, and firearms offenses. TdA has been linked to brutal offenses including murder, kidnapping, extortion, and human and drug trafficking. Many of TdA's members have unlawfully entered the United States, bringing the gang's violence to American communities, including in Colorado.
A federal grand jury has charged 28 individuals after a nine-month investigation which began by targeting criminal activity at an apartment complex in the Denver metro area that had experienced an increase in violent crime and drug activities. The 39-count indictment charges defendants with firearms trafficking; using firearms to commit drug trafficking crimes; possession of firearms and ammunition by illegal aliens; and trafficking controlled substances including methamphetamine, cocaine, and "Tusiâ€â€”a narcotic drug originating in Venezuela which contains a variety of controlled substances including ketamine, methamphetamine, and MDMA (Ecstasy), and is typically manufactured to be pink in color. The indictment also charges five of the defendants with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. ATF officers recovered 69 firearms through this operation, including automatic machineguns. Many of these firearms have been linked to shootings in Denver and Aurora, including carjackings, robberies, and drive-by shootings.
A separate indictment charges Luis Fernando Uribe-Torrealba, 29, and Luis Henriquez-Charaima, 29, with six counts including a conspiracy to traffic firearms, a conspiracy to traffic controlled substances, carjacking, and a conspiracy to commit murder for hire. Colombian authorities arrested Uribe-Torrealba and Henriquez-Charaima in Colombia on July 30, 2025, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant the United States had requested based on charges in this case. They remain in custody in Colombia pending further extradition proceedings.
Of the 28 defendants in the United States, 24 are in federal custody.
The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations also participated in the investigation. Several other law enforcement agencies made significant contributions to this case, including Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, the Aurora Police Department, and the Denver Police Department. Also, the Colombian National Police and the special response element of its Anti-Extortion Division (GAULA Elite) provided critical investigative support. The Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section's Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia, provided additional significant assistance in securing the arrests of Uribe-Torrealba and Henriquez-Charaima.
The Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado is handling the prosecution, along with members of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV).
JTFV was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target Tren de Aragua, and is comprised of U.S. Attorney's Offices across the country. Those include Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and the District of Nevada, as well as the Department of Justice's National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, USMS, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). In February 2025, Tren de Aragua was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
The charges contained in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Denver, Colorado criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Drug Trafficking, Murder-for-Hire, and Firearms Crimes
Thirty Charged in Sweeping Federal Case Targeting Tren de Aragua Members and Associates for Drug Trafficking, Murder-for-Hire, and Firearms Crimes
Two federal indictments charged 30 individuals, including several alleged leaders and members of designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA), with drug trafficking, murder-for-hire, and firearms offenses. TdA has been linked to brutal offenses including murder, kidnapping, extortion, and human and drug trafficking. Many of TdA's members have unlawfully entered the United States, bringing the gang's violence to American communities, including in Colorado.
A federal grand jury has charged 28 individuals after a nine-month investigation which began by targeting criminal activity at an apartment complex in the Denver metro area that had experienced an increase in violent crime and drug activities. The 39-count indictment charges defendants with firearms trafficking; using firearms to commit drug trafficking crimes; possession of firearms and ammunition by illegal aliens; and trafficking controlled substances including methamphetamine, cocaine, and "Tusiâ€â€”a narcotic drug originating in Venezuela which contains a variety of controlled substances including ketamine, methamphetamine, and MDMA (Ecstasy), and is typically manufactured to be pink in color. The indictment also charges five of the defendants with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. ATF officers recovered 69 firearms through this operation, including automatic machineguns. Many of these firearms have been linked to shootings in Denver and Aurora, including carjackings, robberies, and drive-by shootings.
A separate indictment charges Luis Fernando Uribe-Torrealba, 29, and Luis Henriquez-Charaima, 29, with six counts including a conspiracy to traffic firearms, a conspiracy to traffic controlled substances, carjacking, and a conspiracy to commit murder for hire. Colombian authorities arrested Uribe-Torrealba and Henriquez-Charaima in Colombia on July 30, 2025, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant the United States had requested based on charges in this case. They remain in custody in Colombia pending further extradition proceedings.
Of the 28 defendants in the United States, 24 are in federal custody.
The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations also participated in the investigation. Several other law enforcement agencies made significant contributions to this case, including Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, the Aurora Police Department, and the Denver Police Department. Also, the Colombian National Police and the special response element of its Anti-Extortion Division (GAULA Elite) provided critical investigative support. The Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section's Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia, provided additional significant assistance in securing the arrests of Uribe-Torrealba and Henriquez-Charaima.
The Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado is handling the prosecution, along with members of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV).
JTFV was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target Tren de Aragua, and is comprised of U.S. Attorney's Offices across the country. Those include Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and the District of Nevada, as well as the Department of Justice's National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, USMS, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). In February 2025, Tren de Aragua was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
The charges contained in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Outcome:
The charges contained in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Luis Fernando Uribe-Torrealba...?
The outcome was: The charges contained in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Which court heard United States of America v. Luis Fernando Uribe-Torrealba...?
This case was heard in The United States District Court for the District of Colorado (Denver County), CO. The presiding judge was Regina M. Rodriguez.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Luis Fernando Uribe-Torrealba...?
Plaintiff's attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in Denver. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best Denver, Colorado Criminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory.
When was United States of America v. Luis Fernando Uribe-Torrealba... decided?
This case was decided on August 18, 2025.