Two Venezuelan illegal immigrants, suspected members of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang, were arrested in Rensselaer, New York, in connection with a homicide in Stamford, Connecticut. The two suspects, 24-year-old Gregory Marlyn Galindez-Trias and 22-year-old Moises Alejandro Condollo-Urbaneja, were apprehended near the Amtrak station while accompanied by two children, who were subsequently taken into protective custody by local authorities.
The Rensselaer Police Department received a tip-off from Stamford Police on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, regarding the suspects’ use of a stolen credit card at the Rensselaer Amtrak Station. The credit card was linked to a murder victim in Stamford, prompting immediate action from law enforcement. According to a press release from the Rensselaer Chief of Police, officers moved swiftly to detain the pair based on information provided by their Connecticut counterparts.
The suspects are wanted in connection with the murder of 59-year-old Angel Samaniego, an Ecuadorian national who was legally residing in the U.S. with a green card. Samaniego was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound to the chest, a tragedy that has shaken the Stamford community. The Stamford Advocate reported that the murder investigation had been ongoing, and the use of Samaniego’s stolen credit card in Rensselaer provided a significant lead in the case.
The suspects were arrested near the Amtrak station, just after using the stolen card. At the time of their arrest, they were walking with two children, whose connection to the suspects is unclear but who were promptly placed into the care of Rensselaer County Child Protective Services. This raises questions about the children’s involvement in the pair’s illegal activities and potential risk factors that authorities will likely continue to investigate.
Fox News’ Bill Melugin revealed additional details surrounding the suspects’ immigration status, reporting that Galindez-Trias had been previously caught and released at the border in Fort Brown, Texas, in May 2022. Condollo-Urbaneja, on the other hand, had entered the U.S. as a “gotaway,” meaning he had crossed the border undetected. The case has reignited debates about border security and the handling of illegal immigrants, particularly those linked to violent criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua, which is known for drug trafficking, extortion, and human smuggling across Latin America and beyond.
Upon their arrest, the pair were brought before Rensselaer City Court Judge Linda Blom Johnson on Thursday afternoon, where they were charged as fugitives from justice. Law enforcement officials from Stamford are expected to transfer the suspects back to Connecticut, where they will face further charges related to the homicide of Samaniego. The two cities are approximately two and a half hours apart, making the suspects’ attempt to evade authorities relatively short-lived.
The investigation has drawn attention to the growing influence of the Tren de Aragua gang, a criminal organization with roots in Venezuela. During her court appearance, Galindez-Trias expressed fear of retaliation from the gang if she is sent to jail, suggesting that the reach of Tren de Aragua extends far beyond Venezuela and into the U.S.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also been involved in the case. Both Galindez-Trias and Condollo-Urbaneja now face immigration detainers, which could lead to their deportation once they have been processed for their criminal activities in the U.S. The arrests underscore the broader issues of illegal immigration and cross-border crime, especially as criminal organizations increasingly exploit immigration vulnerabilities to expand their operations.
The Stamford Police Department continues to investigate Samaniego’s murder, while both suspects remain in custody awaiting their transfer to Connecticut. The involvement of the Tren de Aragua gang in this case raises alarms about the growing presence of Latin American criminal organizations in the United States and the challenges law enforcement faces in combating their influence.
As the case unfolds, questions remain about how many other violent criminals may have slipped into the country undetected and the role that weak border enforcement policies may play in facilitating such tragedies. Authorities will continue to work together across state lines to ensure justice is served in Samaniego’s murder.
