NASHVILLE – Five defendants – including suspected associates of Tren De Aragua (“TdA”) or “Anti-Tren,” a splinter faction of TdA comprised of current and former members of TdA – have been charged with multiple felonies, including drug trafficking conspiracy, firearms trafficking conspiracy, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee.Since approximately September 2025, Nashville HSTF agents have been investigating Maikel Jesus Albornoz-Jimenez (“ALBORNOZ”), Eduard Jesus Velasquez-Matute (“VELASQUEZ”), Faren Aldahir Marquez-Cruz (“MARQUEZ”), Jose Luis Baza-Rodriguez, a/k/a “Yonce” (“BAZA”), Luis Manuel Tovar-Virguz (“TOVAR”), and others for trafficking in firearms and narcotics throughout the Middle District of Tennessee (“MDTN”) and across the country. Over the course of the investigation, agents identified ALBORNOZ as a supplier of firearms and narcotics in the MDTN, as well as a facilitator of deals across the country, meaning that ALBORNOZ would often connect others with his co-conspirators located in other states that ALBORNOZ knew had firearms or narcotics available for sale. ALBORNOZ would often receive a kickback for facilitating the deal. VELASQUEZ and MARQUEZ were sources of supply for firearms sold by ALBORNOZ in the MDTN. Some of the firearms supplied by VELASQUEZ and MARQUEZ and sold by ALBORNOZ were previously reported stolen or associated with other acts of violence, including shootings. BAZA acted as a source of supply and facilitator of narcotics deals in Washington state, including on deals brokered by ALBORNOZ. And TOVAR engaged in trafficking methamphetamine with ALBORNOZ and supplied one firearm to ALBORNOZ for sale in the MDTN.Charges against the DefendantsALBORNOZ, BAZA, and TOVAR are charged with a drug trafficking conspiracy involving more than 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing cocaine, more than 50 grams or a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, and other controlled substances; ALBORNOZ, VELASQUEZ, and MARQUEZ are charged with a firearms trafficking conspiracy; and the defendants also face individual charges relating to using and carrying a firearm during an in relation to a drug trafficking crime, drug trafficking offenses, firearms trafficking offenses, and being an alien in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, the drug conspiracy charged in the Middle District of Tennessee involved approximately 112 grams of methamphetamine, 340 grams of MDMA and Ketamine, and 870 grams of cocaine. The charged gun trafficking conspiracy resulted in the seizure of 25 firearms, with several more firearms being seized in other jurisdictions as a result of gun deals brokered by ALBORNOZ. Of the 25 firearms seized in MDTN, 8 firearms were previously reported as stolen, and 2 have been tied to other crimes of violence based upon NIBIN results. Specifically, a Glock .40 caliber pistol has been preliminarily associated with a shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, that occurred on November 30, 2023. And a Canik 9x19mm pistol has been preliminarily associated with a shooting involving multiple victims in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 17, 2024…
Source: U.S. Department of Justice