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BRONX, N.Y. — A violent Bronx shooting that stunned investigators has now reached a major turning point in court. Four members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua have pleaded guilty to the killings of two unarmed Americans, a case federal officials say reflects a growing transnational gang threat inside the United States.

The guilty pleas stem from a May 2024 attack that left two people dead and another injured in a residential Bronx neighborhood. Authorities say the defendants had entered the United States illegally before becoming involved in violent criminal activity.

GUILTY PLEAS IN DEADLY BRONX STREET ATTACK

Federal prosecutors confirmed that four men tied to Tren de Aragua admitted responsibility for the murders of Claretha LaQuesha Daniels, 44, and Justin Lawless, 36, during a street shooting in the Bronx.

A third victim was also shot and wounded in the same attack, which prosecutors describe as part of a broader pattern of escalating gang violence linked to the organization’s expansion in U.S. cities.

The defendants, identified as Keiber “Keybe” Jaen Martinez, Samuel “Klei” Gonzalez Castro, Eferson “Jefferson” Morillo-Gomez, and Keineyer “Keiner” Ibarra-Mujica, pleaded guilty in federal court to murder through use of a firearm and related weapons charges.

“BRUTAL AND SENSELESS” KILLINGS

Prosecutors say the attack was deliberate and carried out in a residential area, leaving families devastated and a community shaken.

“This recent Memorial Day Sunday marked a tragic date: two years to the day that Ms. Daniels and Mr. Lawless lost their lives,” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said, offering condolences to the victims’ families.

Officials say the case highlights the violent footprint of Tren de Aragua, which law enforcement agencies link to murder, drug trafficking, weapons offenses, and sex trafficking operations across multiple countries.

ILLEGAL ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES

According to federal authorities, the convicted gang members entered the country illegally before becoming involved in criminal activity in New York City.

Officials say the group contributed to a broader wave of violence involving gun crimes, narcotics distribution, and trafficking networks operating across multiple boroughs.

Law enforcement agencies describe Tren de Aragua as a rapidly expanding transnational criminal organization with increasing presence in major U.S. cities.

“NO PLACE IN THE UNITED STATES,” OFFICIALS SAY

Federal officials issued strong warnings about the gang’s presence.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the organization is a “terrorist group” with “no place and no future in the United States,” pledging continued efforts to dismantle its network.

Homeland Security officials have also described the gang as one of the most violent criminal organizations operating internationally, linked to murders, kidnappings, and human trafficking.

EXPANDING FEDERAL INVESTIGATION

Authorities say the case is part of a broader crackdown on Tren de Aragua and related criminal networks operating inside the United States.

Investigators have tied the organization to smuggling operations, drug trafficking involving synthetic narcotics, and sex trafficking schemes involving coercion and cross-border exploitation.

Federal officials say additional prosecutions are expected as efforts continue to dismantle the organization’s presence in multiple U.S. cities.

LIFE SENTENCES POSSIBLE

All four defendants face potential life sentences in federal prison for their roles in the murders and firearms charges.

A fifth defendant tied to the broader investigation has also pleaded guilty to separate charges, adding to the growing list of convictions connected to the case.

Authorities say the investigation remains active as they pursue additional suspected members of the organization operating across the country.