US Treasury Sanctions Venezuelan Model Rosita for Alleged Ties to Tren de Aragua Gang
A Venezuelan model, actress, and DJ known as Rosita has been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department for her alleged involvement in providing material support to the Tren de Aragua gang. Rosita, who has a significant social media following, has been accused of helping launder money for the gang, including assisting its leader, Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, in escaping from prison. She has also been linked to drug trafficking activities through her association with her ex-bodyman and manager, Eryk Manuel Landaeta Hernandez, who was arrested in 2024 for his involvement in drug peddling and money laundering for the gang.
Rosita, who has appeared in popular Spanish-language TV shows and works as a DJ, has faced scrutiny for her relationships with individuals connected to criminal activities. Her past romances with convicts, including Luidig Ochoa and Carlos Galíndez, have raised concerns about her associations with criminal elements in Venezuela. The sanctions imposed on Rosita and Eryk by the Treasury Department aim to disrupt the financial networks supporting the Tren de Aragua gang and prevent them from accessing the US financial system.
The sanctions also target other individuals associated with the Tren de Aragua gang, including Kenffersso Jhosue Sevilla Arteaga, known as "El Flipper," and several cell leaders and lieutenants involved in criminal activities. The US government has taken action against the gang members to counter their illicit activities, which pose a threat to national security and public safety. The Venezuelan government's alleged facilitation of illegal migration by Tren de Aragua members into the US has raised concerns about the gang's expansion and criminal operations in the country.
The Treasury Department's designation of Rosita, Eryk, and other individuals linked to the Tren de Aragua gang underscores the US government's commitment to combating transnational criminal organizations and terrorist groups. By targeting the financial networks that support these criminal enterprises, the US aims to disrupt their operations and protect American citizens from the threats posed by these groups. The sanctions serve as a warning to individuals involved in criminal activities that they will face consequences for their actions and will be held accountable for their support of terrorist organizations like the Tren de Aragua gang.