Venezuelan gang ‘Tren de Aragua’ reportedly take over hotel in El Paso, TX
There is a report that the Venezuelan gang “Tren De Aragua” has taken over a hotel in El Paso, TX, and the El Paso County Attorney’s office has filed a restraining order against the hotel.
A hotel in downtown El Paso and its owner received a temporary injunction and restraining order from the El Paso County Attorney on Monday for alleged criminal activity and suspicions of “Tren De Aragua” gang members in the hotel. KFOX-TV reported.
The Gateway Hotel, a hotel located at 104 S. Stanton in downtown El Paso, was the target of an initial petition for abatement of a common nuisance and an application for a temporary restraining order and injunction filed by El Paso County Attorney Christina Sanchez.
The El Paso County Attorney also filed the order against the owner Howard Yun.
The document stated that Gateway has been operating as a hotel for the past six years, but without a valid certificate of occupancy and in violation of city regulations. Since July, the building has failed at least three El Paso Fire Department inspections.
Over the last two years, 693 calls have been made to police to investigate the hotel.
According to the document, Gateway engages in frequent criminal activity, as evidenced by police reports.
A video showed dozens of people “partying” on the hotel’s third floor, drinking, smoking, and dancing provocatively in front of children, according to the document.
The video also shows at least one gun being fired, another being used to threaten, men holding knives, and a man wielding a hatchet assaulting people and causing damage to the hotel in front of a security guard.
Police received reports of drug use, thefts, burglaries, and fights at the hotel.