Report: Landlord agrees to sell Colorado apartment complex amidst Venezuelan gang issue

The landlord of the Aurora apartment complex in Colorado has been cleared of all charges related to the violent Venezuelan gang takeover controversy, according to a report.

According to records from the Denver Gazette, an agreement was reached between the city and Nome Partners, in which city officials decided to dismiss numerous charges against the landlord of the Aspen Grove apartment complex for neglecting the property.

The landlord's charges are linked to a viral video featuring Tren de Aragua (TdA) members taking over an apartment through force.

According to 9News, the agreement between Baumgarten and Nome Partners LLC stipulates that Baumgarten will forsake his right to a prompt trial in exchange for the dismissal of charges, while Nome Partners LLC will sell or lease the property and pay up to $60,000 to clean up and secure the complex.

The Aspen Grove apartments' unlivable conditions were attributed to the TdA gang takeover by Baumgarten's company.

Nearly a year ago, the police were aware of the gang issue, according to one investor who spoke to The Denver Post.

According to the Denver Gazette, the investor stated that the situation had become unmanageable, prompting them to contact local authorities for assistance in removing the TdA members, who the lawyer alleged had "illegally seized" the property.

The landlord of the property inquired about hiring off-duty police officers for security, but the Aurora Police Department declined the request.

According to Joe Moylan, an Aurora police spokesperson, the police department did not have enough staff to ensure adequate security at all of Joe's properties.

Rep. Greg Lopez, R-Colo., is urging the Biden administration to intensify efforts against illegal immigrants associated with gangs within the U.S. and recently presented a bill aimed at combating migrant gangs.

The bill would require the DHS secretary to issue detainers for migrants who have been linked to a gang by law enforcement.

Since reports of crime by illegal immigrants have accumulated in cities and towns across the U.S., House Republicans have introduced one of several bills.

Lopez wrote to DHS Secretary Mayorkas on Wednesday, urging him to direct the local ICE office to aggressively apprehend, detain, and deport any members of TdA or other known foreign criminal gangs in Colorado, with a specific focus on Denver suburbs like Aurora.

"Tren de Aragua, part of the criminal networks responsible for millions of encounters annually, is causing harm to our communities."

This year, several high-profile killings in the U.S. have seen illegal immigrants being accused, including Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray.

Despite the claims of federal officials that TdA is terrorizing apartment complexes in the metro Denver area, local politicians maintain that the media has exaggerated the concerns about Venezuelan gang members taking over buildings.

Law enforcement officials are denying reports of a gang takeover in Aurora.

"Interim Aurora Police Chief Heather Morris stated in a Facebook video, as reported by USA Today, that after speaking with residents in the area, there is a clear distinction between what is happening and what was previously believed. While she acknowledged that there are gang members who reside in the community, she emphasized that the situation is not as it was previously perceived."

Planet Chronicle Digital's Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.