FILE PHOTO: A customs agent wears a patch for the US Customs and Border Safety company, October 27, 2017, at John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport in New York. On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, the US arrested in New York a reputed Peruvian gang chief suspected in practically two dozen killings in his dwelling nation. (Related Press Photograph/Mark Lennihan, file)
NEW YORK — US immigration authorities arrested in New York a reputed Peruvian gang chief suspected in practically two dozen killings in his dwelling nation.
Gianfranco Torres-Navarro, the chief of “Los Killers” who is needed for 23 killings in Peru, was arrested in Endicott, New York, about 145 miles (233 kilometers) northwest of New York Metropolis on Wednesday, August 14, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) mentioned Thursday. He’s being held at a federal detention facility close to Buffalo pending an immigration listening to, Immigration and Customs Enforcement mentioned.
Torres-Navarro, 38, entered the US illegally on the Texas-Mexico border on Could 16. He was arrested the identical day and given a discover to seem for immigration proceedings, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement mentioned.
READ: US arrests 2 leaders of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel
ICE mentioned it moved to arrest Torres-Navarro after receiving data on July 8 that he was needed in Peru.
“Gianfranco Torres-Navarro poses a big menace to our communities, and we received’t permit New York to be a secure haven for harmful noncitizens,” mentioned Thomas Brophy, the director of enforcement removing operations for ICE’s Buffalo subject workplace.
Immigration brokers additionally arrested Torres-Navarro’s girlfriend, Mishelle Sol Ivanna Ortíz Ubillús, described by Peruvian authorities as his proper hand. She is being held at a processing middle in Pennsylvania, in line with ICE’s On-line Detainee Locator System.
On-line immigration detention information for Torres-Navarro and Ortíz Ubillús didn’t embody data on attorneys who may touch upon their behalf.
Peru’s justice system confirmed to The Related Press that it ordered the placement and worldwide seize of Torres-Navarro and his associate Ortiz-Ubilluz on July 3.
In line with Peruvian authorities, Torres-Navarro is the chief of a legal group referred to as “Los Killers de Ventanilla y Callao” that has used violence to thwart rivals looking for to chop into its core enterprise of extorting building firms.
Torres-Navarro allegedly fled Peru after the killing of retired police officer Cesar Quegua Herrera and the taking pictures of a municipal worker at a restaurant in San Miguel in March, Peruvian media reported.
Six reputed members of “Los Killers,” fashioned in 2022 in an space alongside the Pacific coast the place Peru’s major port is positioned, have been arrested in a collection of raids in June and accused of murder, contract killing, and extortion, the Nationwide Police of Peru mentioned.
READ: ‘Mates’ star Matthew Perry demise: Docs, ‘Ketamine Queen’ arrested
Torres-Navarro was beforehand a member of the Los Malditos de Angamos legal group, Peru’s Public Prosecutor’s Workplace mentioned. He’s often known as “Gianfranco 23,” a reference to the variety of folks he’s alleged to have killed.
Torres-Navarro eluded earlier makes an attempt to carry him accountable for his alleged crimes.
In 2019, whereas on the run from authorities, he was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in jail for unlawful weapons possession. He remained at massive till 2021, when he was arrested at a toll checkpoint close to Peru’s capital metropolis, Lima. However even then, he didn’t keep behind bars for lengthy. After an acquittal in that case, Torres-Navarro was freed final December.
Quickly after, Peruvian authorities mentioned, “Los Killers” ramped up its violence, culminating within the taking pictures in San Miguel.
Gianfranco’s girlfriend, Ortiz Ubillús, has a distinguished function in “Los Killers,” Peruvian authorities mentioned. The Public Prosecutor’s Workplace described her as Torres Navarro’s romantic associate, lieutenant and cashier.
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please attempt once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
She additionally has a large following on the social media platform TikTok the place she confirmed off their lavish way of life, together with designer garments, resort holidays and taking pictures targets at a gun vary.
