A management company in Colorado has revealed disturbing surveillance footage and a photo of an injured employee to highlight the ongoing issue with a violent migrant gang from Venezuela. Brooklyn-based CBZ Management, which oversees multiple complexes in Colorado, has reported that members of the Tren de Aragua gang took control of entire apartment buildings in Aurora by threatening employees and attempting to extort money from the company in exchange for the continued operation of the properties.
The company stated that one of their buildings gained national attention earlier this year when surveillance footage captured a heavily armed group of men, believed to be members of the Venezuelan prison gang, moving through The Edge at Lowry apartments and speaking in Spanish. The most recent footage depicts a representative of CBZ being assaulted after refusing a bribe at the Whispering Pines Complex toward the end of 2023.
According to CBZ Management, the employee encountered a group of male squatters in an empty apartment and declined a $500 bribe to overlook the situation. The employee was violently attacked and required hospital treatment for his injuries. Following the assault, the employee received threatening text messages containing his home address and spouse’s name.
The company reported that a police report from the incident revealed that one of their property managers was assaulted by a documented member of Tren de Aragua in November 2023. Subsequently, CBZ representatives met with the FBI, who acknowledged that the gang was behind the threatening messages and building takeovers. Despite this confirmation, the FBI considered the issue a minor concern due to the gang’s growing national presence.
CBZ also mentioned that the gangs took over a tenant’s apartment while the tenant was away on vacation, forcing them to find alternative housing upon their return. The company emphasized that multiple properties in Aurora had been seized by gangs, leading them to withdraw their workers from the complexes for safety reasons.
The Aurora Police Department stated that they had not found evidence of a gang takeover at any CBZ properties, although they acknowledged the possibility of gang members residing there. Similarly, an Aurora spokesperson dismissed the claims made by CBZ Management as exaggerated.
Former President Donald Trump visited Aurora and connected the alleged gang issues to the Biden-Harris administration’s border policies. CBZ Management has faced numerous citations dating back to 2020 for violations such as rodent infestations, unauthorized parking, and structural damage. Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman criticized the company as “slumlords.”
CBZ Management refuted the city’s accusations of code violations and claimed that any issues had been addressed promptly. The company asserted that the only violations left unattended were due to the gang’s takeover of the properties, which prompted them to prioritize the safety of their on-site staff.
As media and government officials downplay the impact of Venezuelan gangs in Aurora, residents like Cindy Romero, who moved out of her apartment due to escalating violence, feel neglected. Romero questioned the tolerance levels for gang activity, property takeovers, and displacement of law-abiding citizens in Aurora, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
In conclusion, the presence of the Tren de Aragua gang in Colorado has raised significant concerns for residents, property management companies, and local authorities. The conflicting narratives regarding the extent of gang influence and the appropriate response to such threats continue to fuel discussions about public safety and law enforcement strategies in the region.