Tren de Aragua youth gang targets Times Square at NYC migrant shelter

A ruthless crew of Tran de Aragua migrant gangbangers who encountered children in a city-funded Manhattan shelter are carrying out armed robberies in Times Square — and they’re getting away with it, officials and sources said.

Nearly two dozen young migrant thugs, some as young as 11, are now part of a dangerous asylum seeker gang that does everything from snatching purses to holding New Yorkers at gunpoint, a top NYPD official told The Post. and has reached the level of robbery targeting tourists equally.

But he’s managing to stay out of jail because of his age and the Empire State’s liberal criminal justice laws, said Jason Savino, assistant chief of detectives for the bureau.

“You have individuals who are shameless,” Savino said. “We know they have access to guns, this is evident from the fact that they have committed robberies at gunpoint and they are brazen enough to flaunt pistols in and around their social media.

“This is the first groomed group that we found where this group of about 20 individuals, in a pack format, hang out every day, they post on social media, they boast about their crew,” the chief said. ” “You see small spaces in and around Times Square and around shelters.

“But as far as the actual extent, it’s limited to shelters.”

Savino said the crew of about 21 gang members calling themselves “Los Diablos de la 42” – Spanish for “The Little Devils of 42” – have been busted for 50 different incidents, and so far no arrests have been made. Is also not behind bars.

“They committed robberies in and around Central Park, in and around Times Square, in and around transit, all the sexy spots,” he said. “And tourists are being targeted.

“They had kind of a graduation, and a progression where basically it started as snatches and then moved up to strong armed robberies, and then started brandishing knives in a pack format.”

Also worrying New York’s Finest is the possibility of an all-out gang war between the TDA and one of the Big Apple’s most notorious gangs – the Latin Kings.

According to authorities, the dispute between the two gangs dates back to the alleged murder of a TDA member by a Latin King several years ago, and the feud is still a hot issue.

The TDA, which grew out of Venezuela’s long-standing poverty and corruption, has gained a criminal foothold in five cities in little more than a year.

Law enforcement sources said gang members hid among the millions of asylum seekers crossing the U.S. border with Mexico from 2022, then scattered throughout the country,

Members are asked to receive specific tattoos that mark them as members, body art typically includes anchors, clocks, crowns and phrases that include the word “Guerrero” – which in Spanish means Warrior but it also pays homage to Hector “Nino” Guerrero. Gang leader in Venezuela.

Gang tats also include the number “23” or NBA stars Michael Jordan and LeBron James, both of whom wear this number on their jerseys, while others include images of bulls, which appears to be a shout-out to the Chicago Bulls basketball team. Is. A city where TDA has flourished, sources said.

In New York, gang members exploited the city’s migrant shelter systemRunning robbery gangs, as well as trafficking drugs, guns, and sex workers right under the noses of private security guards. According to sources.

Sources said the Diablos Crew, based out of the Roosevelt Hotel, is directed by an older gangbanger who recruits youths to carry out robberies before bringing the loot back – sometimes as part of initiation into the gang. .

The group’s gang members would hang out in groups with young recruits, and there the kids would commit a crime, perhaps stealing a passerby’s chain. Savino said the punishment for failing could mean being forced to lick the floor of a city subway car a lot or worse.

He said communication between crew members occurs online, where they openly post exploits.

“They use group chat on their government-issued phones, so you know you’re using it. And the title of the group app is actually according to their gang, and they’re using their government-issued phones.

Recruiters also choose youth who are unlikely to be charged as adults to join their ranks.

In August, police suspected that a 11 year old accused subway robber The Venezuelan, who was living in Roosevelt, was tied to TDA.

Once in custody, the boy was given a juvenile card and released.

In addition to the young age of some gang members, state criminal justice reforms have barred bail for misdemeanors and most felonies, according to some in law enforcement, meaning TDA suspects are often released. .

“This is a product of bail reform,” Savino told The Post. “We tried to make some efforts in the criminal court, but were somewhat unsuccessful.”