WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Justice Department is offering rewards of up to $50 million for information leading to the arrests or convictions of the top three leaders of the foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua, the department announced.
Read the U.S. Department of Justice release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/reward-offers-50m-information-leading-arrests-andor-convictions-foreign-terrorist
The Rewards, The Leaders, The Charges
The rewards are offered under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program and apply to information leading to the arrest or conviction of the three men in any country, the department stated.
Yohan José Romero, also known as "Yohan Petrica," 48, carries a reward of up to $20 million, increased from up to $4 million, the release stated.
Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, also known as "El Viejo," 37, carries a reward of up to $15 million, increased from up to $5 million, the release stated.
Juan Gabriel Rivas Núñez, also known as "Juancho," 44, carries a new reward offer of up to $15 million, the release stated.
All three men were previously charged in a 2025 six-count second superseding indictment in the Southern District of Texas with conspiring to provide and providing material support to Tren de Aragua, the release stated.
A nine-count third superseding indictment was returned in July 2026 and unsealed this week, the release stated.
Mosquera Serrano is also charged in those indictments with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine and international cocaine distribution, the release stated.
Mosquera Serrano is on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List, and Romero and Rivas Núñez are also fugitives, the release stated.
The Justice Department said it has charged more than 350 members and associates of Tren de Aragua since President Trump returned to office.
The Organization, The Reach, The Hunt
Tren de Aragua is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in the mid-2000s, the release stated.
The organization has since expanded its network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States, the release stated.
Its criminal activities range from drug trafficking and firearms trafficking to sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud and extortion, the release stated.
Get help from someone local. Text HELP to (805) 719-7630 and we'll set up a time to talk that works for you.
Members also commit murder, assault and other violent acts to advance the organization's criminal activities, the release stated.
The investigation has revealed that the conspiracy has targeted or carried out ATM jackpotting attacks in 47 states, the District of Columbia and several foreign nations, the release stated.
The FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration are jointly conducting the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department, the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Colombian National Police and the Colombian Attorney General's Office, the release stated.
"These gang members are monsters, and we've indicted them as such," U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz of the Southern District of Texas said. "I'm confident the enhanced bounties will incentivize these terrorists' return to my district, where we will bring them to justice."
"By leveraging DEA's investigative expertise alongside our partners through the Homeland Security Task Force, we are bringing the full force of the U.S. government to bear against narco-terrorists that threaten our communities," Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terrance Cole said. "Today's announcement demonstrates what can be achieved through unprecedented coordination and intelligence sharing across federal law enforcement."
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
, The Tip Line, The Task Force
The three men remain fugitives, and the rewards remain open to anyone with information about their location, the release stated.
Anyone with information can contact the FBI via WhatsApp or Telegram at 281-787-9939, the release stated.
Tips can also be submitted to a local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or online at tips.fbi.gov, the release stated.
The case is part of Joint Task Force Vulcan, which was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and has now expanded to target Tren de Aragua, the release stated.
The prosecution is also part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, the release stated.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal J. Alaniz for the Southern District of Texas, along with Joint Task Force Vulcan Deputy Director David C. Smith and Trial Attorneys James Keller and Kelly McGann, the release stated.
A complaint and indictment are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law, the release stated.
Sources
U.S. Department of Justice, "Reward Offers Up to $50M for Information Leading to Arrests and/or Convictions of Foreign Terrorist Organization Tren de Aragua (TdA) Leaders Following Homeland Security Task Force Investigation," November 5, 2026: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/reward-offers-50m-information-leading-arrests-andor-convictions-foreign-terrorist
Transparency notes
Published: Nov 5, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
Spot an error or missing context? Email hi@kindjoe.com and we will review and correct if needed.
Sources
What's your take on this story?
Vote before the outcome is known and compare your call with the crowd.
No community take has been linked to this story yet.
