Four people have admitted in federal court that they held a man captive in Denver, tortured him, and used a pair of pliers to cut off his right pinky finger during an attempted $30,000 ransom scheme, according to court records. The victim ultimately escaped after days of abuse. Prosecutors say the case is part of a broader federal investigation into the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua’s operations in Colorado.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado has tied the October 2024 abduction and mutilation to a wider pattern of robberies, extortion, and other racketeering activity they allege is linked to the group, as outlined in a December press release. U.S. Attorney’s Office officials say several co-defendants and alleged leaders have been indicted in related cases around the state.
According to plea paperwork described by 9News, the four defendants admitted they demanded $30,000 for the victim’s release, beat and tortured him, recorded the video abuse, and sent those clips to the man’s wife. The agreements state the men pleaded guilty to federal attempted kidnapping charges and are scheduled for sentencing in August.
How Prosecutors Say the Torture Unfolded
Plea documents cited by 9News say the group repeatedly pistol-whipped the victim, strangled him with a rope until he nearly blacked out, and forced his head under water in a bucket for roughly 30 seconds at a time. At one point, one defendant reportedly encouraged the others, saying, "I'll do it," and then used pliers to sever the victim’s right pinky, according to the documents.
Tren de Aragua Ties and Extradition
Federal prosecutors say the Denver kidnapping fits what they describe as a larger pattern of violence tied to Tren de Aragua. In previously unsealed filings, the U.S. Attorney’s Office named alleged Tren de Aragua leaders in connection with robberies, extortion, and kidnapping across Colorado.
The FBI believes one accused leader, Brawins Dominique Suárez Villegas, known as "Chino San Vicente," is in custody in Bogotá, and U.S. officials are seeking to extradite him. Colombian authorities publicly confirmed his capture in 2025. CBS Colorado reported the FBI’s account of his custody status, while Colombian officials detailed the 2025 arrest.
Legal Note
The defendants pleaded guilty to federal attempted kidnapping charges. Under federal law, an attempt to kidnap can carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. According to Cornell Law School, 18 U.S.C. § 1201 provides the statutory framework prosecutors are using in the case. The four defendants remain in custody as they await their August sentencing hearing.
What’s Next
All four defendants are due back in court for sentencing in August, while federal investigators say their broader probe into Tren de Aragua activity in Colorado is still active. An earlier gang indictment coverage in December laid out the larger set of racketeering and robbery charges that officials have connected to the group, as per Hoodline.
