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…