U.S. Offers Up to $50 Million for 3 Tren de Aragua Leaders
State and Justice offered up to $50 million on Nov. 5 for Tren de Aragua leaders Yohan Petrica, El Viejo and Juancho, charged in a Texas indictment.
Featured photo: the Bob Casey Federal Courthouse in Houston (file photo). Photo: WhisperToMe, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
WASHINGTON — The State Department announced reward offers totaling up to $50 million on Nov. 5, 2026, for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the three top leaders of Tren de Aragua, which the U.S. designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization, according to its press statement.
The Justice Department said the three are fugitives charged in the Southern District of Texas with conspiring to provide and providing material support to the group, according to its release. They are presumed innocent.
The three men
The offers are up to $20 million for Yohan José Romero, known as “Yohan Petrica,” up from $4 million; up to $15 million for Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, known as “Giovanni” and “El Viejo,” up from $5 million; and a new offer of up to $15 million for Juan Gabriel Rivas Núñez, known as “Juancho,” the State Department said.
According to court documents cited by State, Romero leads the group and directs operations including narcotrafficking, illegal gold mining in Venezuela and murders. Mosquera Serrano oversees operations in the United States, Colombia and Central America, and Rivas Núñez oversees Venezuela, State said. Mosquera Serrano is on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
The charges
The Justice Department said a nine-count third superseding indictment returned in July 2026 was unsealed the week of Nov. 5. Mosquera Serrano is also charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine and with international cocaine distribution. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department has charged more than 350 members and associates of the group since President Trump returned to office.
The Justice Department said the investigation found the conspiracy targeted or carried out ATM jackpotting attacks in 47 states, the District of Columbia and several foreign countries.
How to send tips
The offers run under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program. The FBI takes tips by phone, text, WhatsApp or Telegram at +1-281-787-9939, at tips.fbi.gov, at local FBI offices, or through U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. State said all identities are kept confidential.
What it means
Analysis: Raising the top bounty fivefold and adding a new one signals the U.S. wants informants inside the group’s Venezuelan and Colombian networks. The Colombian National Police and Colombian Attorney General’s Office are named as investigative partners, which points to where an arrest is most likely to come from.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State: Reward Offers Totaling Up to $50 Million for Information Leading to Arrests and/or Convictions of Leaders of Foreign Terrorist Organization Tren de Aragua
- U.S. Department of Justice: Reward Offers Up to $50M for Information Leading to Arrests and/or Convictions of Foreign Terrorist Organization Tren de Aragua (TdA) Leaders
Related coverage
- Americas Security Nov 7, 2026: Southern Vanguard, Cuba Follow
- U.S. Sanctions 45 More Prince Group Scam Network Targets
- Economic Warfare Update Nov 7, 2026: MEXC Cut Off, FATF
