Federal prosecutors in Nashville say a Homeland Security-led investigation has resulted in five people in Middle Tennessee facing federal charges tied to suspected associates of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. In an announcement on Monday, officials said the probe uncovered cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, and ketamine, and led to the seizure of 25 firearms. Eight of those guns were reported stolen, and two have been preliminarily linked to prior shootings in Nashville, according to authorities.
Three of the defendants are accused of a drug-trafficking conspiracy, while others are charged with a firearms-trafficking conspiracy, according to WSMV. The station reports the investigation has been active since September 2025 and that federal prosecutors presented evidence to a grand jury, which led to the recent charges.
Part of a broader DOJ push
Federal officials say the Middle Tennessee case is part of a nationwide Justice Department effort to disrupt Tren de Aragua activity and related transnational criminal operations. As outlined by the Department of Justice, similar indictments and enforcement actions have been unsealed across multiple districts in recent months.
Who the investigators targeted
Federal filings and local reporting identify the people targeted in the Middle Tennessee probe as Maikel Jesus Albornoz-Jimenez, Eduard Jesus Velasquez-Matute, Faren Aldahir Marquez-Cruz, Jose Luis Baza-Rodriguez, and Luis Manuel Tovar-Virguz, WSMV reports. Prosecutors say three of the named defendants are accused of the drug conspiracy, while others face firearms-trafficking counts.
Legal fallout
The counts include drug trafficking conspiracy, firearms trafficking conspiracy, and related federal offenses. Those charges are being prosecuted in U.S. District Court in Nashville by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. Federal authorities note that investigations into transnational criminal organizations often develop across multiple districts and can result in additional charges as evidence is developed.
Court dates have not yet been set, and officials say the probe remains active. Local and federal law enforcement have not provided additional public details about the arrests or whether more charges are expected. This story will be updated when prosecutors file new documents or the U.S. Attorney's Office posts a formal announcement.
