Venezuelan gang members sold drugs, guns to undercover feds in Chicago, prosecutors say

Three suspected associates of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua have been charged in an undercover sting operation targeting drug and gun traffickers in Chicago.

Alvaro Berrios Godoy, Oscar Puerta Gorrin, and Lilibeth Diaz Pirela were all taken into custody last week after being ensared in an investigation launched in May by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. They are now facing charges in Cook County court, records show.

In court filings, Illinois Assistant Attorney General Thomas Darman said the ATF was investigating "suspected members of the Tren de Aragua transnational criminal organization," which has been at the center of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

ATF informants first set up a controlled purchase of "Tusi," a trendy mixture of drugs that can include cocaine, methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA or fentanyl, Darman said. Undercover ATF agents and a confidential informant then met with the suspects on May 14 at the McDonald's restaurant at 6515 S. Western Ave., where they bought three guns and nearly 47 grams of "Tusi" valued at more than $15,000.

Diaz Pirela and Puerta Gorrin returned to the same McDonald's last Wednesday and sold undercover agents over 50 grams of a substance containing MDMA, Darman said. The drugs were worth $16,562.70, but were only sold for $2,600, court records show.

Diaz Pirela, 27, and Puerta Gorrin, 23, were arrested after the sale, records show. Puerta Gorrin said he was there to deliver the drugs and give the money to Diaz Pirela. Berrios Godoy, 26, was arrested two hours later in Gage Park.

The arrests were first reported by the crime blog CWB Chicago.

Berrios Godoy, Puerta Gorrin, and Diaz Pirela each face charges of possession of a controlled substance of over 30 grams, court records show. Berrios Godoy was also charged with gunrunning, armed violence, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number and unlawful sale of a firearm while being a felon.

Judge Deidre Dyer ordered all three detained during their first court appearances last Thursday, records show. They are all expected in court again on Wednesday.