Venezuelan 'Tren de Aragua' gang members face death penalty for murder of former police officer in Miami

Two alleged members of the dangerous Venezuelan ‘Tren de Aragua’ gang face the death penalty for the 2023 kidnapping and murder of a man in the city of Doral, in Miami-Dade County, whose apartment was ransacked by armed men.

Julio César Hernández Montero, 27 years old; and Yurwin Salazar Maita, 23, appeared by court order in county court Tuesday, where prosecutors charged them with first-degree murder charges for allegedly killing 43-year-old José Luis Sánchez Valera.

In addition to these charges, Assistant State Attorney Gabriela Alfaro told Judge Laura Cruz that the state will prosecute the co-defendants for robbery, home invasion, vehicle theft, kidnapping and burglary.

The band's name officially began to be heard in the United States in November 2023, precisely after the murder of retired Venezuelan police officer Sánchez Valera, a who lived in Doral.

Sanchez was reportedly lured by a woman to a Miami hotel room on Nov 27.

The victim agreed to the sexual interlude and when he left the residence to go home he was approached by three criminals.

The suspects beat Sánchez inside his Toyota 4Runner truck, took him out of the driver's seat and took him to the back of the vehicle, tied his hands and feet and tortured him to get him to give information about where he had valuables and money. cash.

The victim gave the address of his home and the location of a safe in which he had stored dozens of gold items that he had purchased with his savings.

Hours later, a burglary and home invasion was reported at Sánchez Valera's apartment at 6400 NW 102nd Path, in Doral.

The roommate contacted the victim's son, who was able to track his whereabouts with a phone app.

Sánchez Valera's truck was discovered at NW 28th St. and NW 37th Ave. with his body in the back seat. A medical examiner later determined that he had died of asphyxiation and ruled the death a homicide.

The roommate managed to identify the woman the victim met at the hotel who identified Hernández Montero as an acquaintance from Venezuela and one of the suspects in the home invasion.

According to the arrest report, while in the house, one of the attackers stated that they belonged to the violent “Tren de Aragua”gang.

Investigators were able to identify Salazar Maita as a suspect in the crimes after a fingerprint from the 4Runner matched his.

Both are currently in jail without bail. If convicted of first-degree murder, they could be sentenced to death.