KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch told the governor during a budget hearing last week a Venezuelan gang is operating "in every major city in our state."
Rausch was talking about the 'Tren de Aragua' gang. It's a criminal organization that's made headlines nationwide this year when false claims about members of the gang taking over an apartment building in Aurora, Colorado were posted on social media.
The gang started in a Venezuelan prison and is known for running human trafficking, drug and theft rings. The FBI confirmed the gang was active in the United States. Rausch said TBI's first run-in with the gang was a 2023 human trafficking case.
“In that operation, we recognized a number of the members here trafficking females that they had abducted from Venezuela and brought them here," he said. "We were able to capture them and they were out of Tennessee.”
Rausch cited new intelligence suggesting the gang is back in the state and will likely get into other illegal operations including retail theft and drugs.
WBIR reached out to 20 different law enforcement agencies in East Tennessee asking if they've seen any activity related to this gang. Of those 20 agencies, 12 responded saying they weren't aware of any activity in their area. Those agencies include: Knox County Sheriff, Blount County Sheriff, Anderson County Sheriff, Maryville Police Department, Crossville Police Department, Cocke County Sheriff, Fentress County Sheriff, Grainger County Sheriff, Greene County Sheriff, Hamblen County Sheriff, Monroe County Sheriff, Roane County Sheriff and Knoxville Police Department.
Knoxville Police issued a statement Monday saying, in part, "While KPD Organized Crime Unit detectives are aware of the gang, they are not aware of any active members of Tren de Aragua in Knoxville. Detectives are also not aware of any Tren de Aragua activity in Knoxville, nor has the KPD led any criminal investigations involving known members of the gang."
A downtown Knoxville bar also got wrapped up in the controversy and issued a statement regarding a rumor that the gang was operating there.
"We want to assure you that nothing described in these messages has happened at our bar. The story being shared is untrue and our priority is to ensure everyone in the Cool Beans community feels safe," the bar wrote on Facebook.
Knox County Sheriff's Office gang unit captain said "they've had zero arrests and no interaction with them." Blount County's Narcotics supervisor had "not heard of them or seen any activity."
Smaller counties like Anderson, Fentress, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen and Roane all said they've seen no activity from this gang.
The Greene County Sheriff also made the point that they don't house a major city.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said they have no knowledge of the gang in their community but that doesn't mean they aren't there.
"That does not mean that they can not be passing through, as Monroe County have main routes such as Interstate 75, Highway 11, Highway 411, and Highway 68 running through it," the sheriff's office said in a statement.
The Cocke County Sheriff's Office had a similar message.
"We are not a major city from his release but regarding his information, we currently have no records regarding this gang activity in our community," said Sheriff CJ Ball. "We do monitor our intakes from arrest to verify if we have an issue with gang members but we have not seen anything related to this gang at this time. We do have a major interstate that obviously comes through our county and most likely they have traveled through, along with other gangs but that road is currently shut down. I can assure our community is safe from this and we would most definitely take actions against it, if it were to occur. We are appreciative that we have knowledge of the release so we can monitor and be of assistance if needed."
Venezolanos en Knoxville, a community group made up of people from Venezuela, released a statement regarding the claims.
They said in part, "In light of recent media coverage concerning criminal activities in our state, the Venezuelan Association of Knoxville, Tennessee, reaffirms our community's commitment to the development and security of the United States. The vast majority of Venezuelans residing in this country work peacefully and professionally, contributing in vital fields such as medicine, technology, scientific research and education."
WBIR is still awaiting word from Campbell, Scott, Sevier, Loudon, Jefferson, Hancock, Cocke and Cumberland counties.