Yerbin Benjamin Lozada Munoz, a suspected member of a Venezuelan gang, was arrested in Nassau County after being found squatting in a New York City home filled with drugs and firearms. Munoz admitted to serving prison time in Venezuela for robbery and resisting arrest. He was initially arrested on March 27 with several other Venezuelans for squatting in a Bronx home where drugs and guns were found, but was released pending trial. One of the other suspects, Hector De Sousa Villalta, is also facing charges and is charged with attempted murder in a separate incident in Yonkers, New York. Munoz entered the U.S. illegally and was released from an ICE detention facility in El Paso due to overcrowding. He violated the conditions of his parole by failing to report to an ICE field office within 60 days.
Munoz was arrested in Nassau County on April 1 for grand larceny, and ICE lodged a detainer request for him. Several other alleged squatters in the NYC home, including Villalta, Yoessy Pino Castillo, and Yojairo Armando Martinez, are in ICE custody awaiting deportation proceedings. Javier Jose Albornoz Marchan and Miguel Gregerio Barrio are in custody in New York City with immigration detainers lodged against them. Johan Jose Cardenas Silva, who was picked up by ICE, is in the Nassau County Jail with a detainer hold. Jefferson Orlando Abreu, the last suspect, is still at large. Nassau County is not a sanctuary jurisdiction, allowing local law enforcement to cooperate with immigration authorities.
Munoz has admitted to being a member of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang, which has been connected to various crimes committed by its members who have come to the United States. He has a history of convictions for robbery and resisting arrest in Venezuela, where he served 14 months in prison. Munoz illegally entered the U.S. near Eagle Pass, Texas, in October 2022 and was released due to overcrowding at an ICE facility in El Paso. He was required to report to an ICE field office within 60 days but failed to do so, resulting in the violation of his parole conditions. ICE lodged a detainer request for Munoz after his arrest in Nassau County for grand larceny.
Authorities have taken multiple suspects into custody in connection with the squatting incident at the NYC home, with immigration detainers issued in their cases. Villalta, Castillo, and Martinez are in ICE custody awaiting deportation proceedings. Albornoz Marchan and Barrio are in custody in New York City with immigration detainers lodged against them. Cardenas Silva remains in the Nassau County Jail with a detainer hold, while Abreu is still at large. ICE has been working with local law enforcement to apprehend and process the suspects involved in the case.
The case involving Munoz and the other suspects highlights the ongoing challenges in dealing with individuals who enter the U.S. illegally and engage in criminal activities. The collaboration between ICE and local law enforcement agencies is crucial in ensuring that individuals involved in criminal behavior are held accountable and processed for potential deportation. The presence of gangs like the Tren de Aragua in the U.S. highlights the importance of proper screening and monitoring of individuals who enter the country to prevent criminal activities and protect communities. Moving forward, continued cooperation between different law enforcement agencies will be essential in addressing similar cases and ensuring public safety.
