Venezuelan Entertainer Sanctioned for Alleged Ties to Tren de Aragua Gang

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Venezuelan model, actress, and DJ Jimena Romina Araya Navarro on Wednesday for her alleged involvement with the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang, a violent transnational criminal organization.

According to officials, Navarro, also known as Rosita, is accused of laundering money for the gang and providing material support to its leadership. The Treasury Department stated that she helped Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as “Niño Guerrero,” escape from Tocorón prison in Venezuela in 2012.

Navarro reportedly performs in nightclubs in Colombia, with a portion of the proceeds from these events benefiting the TdA leadership. She has performed at the Maiquetia VIP Bar Restaurant in Bogotá, a nightclub owned by her former bodyguard and manager, Eryk Manuel Landaeta Hernandez. Hernandez was arrested by Colombian authorities in October 2024 and is alleged to have organized events where drugs were sold for the gang and proceeds laundered.

Hernandez is also accused of laundering money for Guerrero and other senior TdA leaders, including Mosquera Serrano. He owns Eryk Producciones SAS, a creative, arts, and entertainment services company, and reportedly served as the gang’s financial and logistics chief in Colombia.

The Treasury Department emphasized that the sanctions are part of efforts to disrupt the operations of the Tren de Aragua network, which has been involved in narcotrafficking and human smuggling activities that pose a threat to the United States. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent stated that under the Trump administration, measures are being taken to prevent such criminal organizations from operating with impunity across U.S. borders.

Additional sanctions were also imposed on other TdA leaders, including Richard Jose Espinal Quintero, Noe Manases Aponte Cordova, and Asdrubal Rafael Esc, according to officials.

The designation of Navarro and others aims to cut off these individuals and entities from the U.S. and global financial systems to enhance national security and public safety.

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Alison Grant

Alison Grant writes about jobs, inflation, corporate power and household finances. She focuses on how economic trends show up in paychecks, bills and everyday decisions for workers, families and small business owners.

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