Landlord sells Colorado apartment complex amid Venezuelan gang controversy

Charges dropped in exchange for sale of property and promise to clean up

In a significant development, Colorado officials have agreed to drop all charges against the landlord of the Aspen Grove apartment complex in Aurora that has been at the center of a violent Venezuelan gang controversy. The decision is part of a settlement, according to documents obtained by the Denver Gazette.

Agreement details and terms

The city of Aurora and Nome Partners reached an agreement to drop multiple charges against the landlord, Baumgarten, for failing to maintain the property. The charges also extend to another property Baumgarten owned, which was featured in a viral video in which members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a violent Venezuelan migrant gang, forcibly took over an apartment using heavy weapons.

Under the agreement, Baumgarten waived his right to a speedy trial and Nome Partners LLC agreed to sell or lease the property and will pay up to $60,000 to clean up and secure the Aspen Grove complex, 9News reported.

Impact of gang activities

Baumgarten’s firm has attributed the deterioration of the Aspen Grove apartments to the takeover by the TdA gang. One investor who spoke to The Denver Post claimed that police had been aware of the gang problem for nearly a year. In letters obtained by The Denver Gazette, the investor described the situation as so dire that they were seeking help from local officials to remove the TdA members, who had “forcibly seized control” of the property.

Attempts to improve security by hiring off-duty officers were reportedly rebuffed by Aurora police. “He was told we did not have enough staff to provide adequate security at all of his properties,” Joe Moylan, a spokesman for Aurora police, said in a statement to the Gazette.

Legislative response

In response to growing concerns about gang-related activity, Rep. Greg Lopez (R-Colo.) is urging the Biden administration to take swift action against illegal immigrants involved in gang activity. Last week, Lopez introduced a new bill aimed at combating migrant gangs. If passed, the bill would require the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain migrants who are known to law enforcement to be gang-affiliated.

“Under your leadership, the United States has lost control of our southern border,” Lopez wrote in a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. He urged the secretary to “immediately issue a directive” to local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices “to aggressively arrest, detain, and deport all members of TdA or other known foreign criminal gangs based in the State of Colorado,” with a specific focus on Denver suburbs like Aurora.

Federal and local positions

Federal officials believe TdA is active in the Denver metro area, terrorizing several apartment complexes. However, local politicians claim that concerns about Venezuelan gang members taking over apartment complexes are being “exaggerated” by the media. Aurora law enforcement officials have also denied claims of a gang takeover.

“We’ve been talking to the residents here and learning from them to try to figure out exactly what’s going on, and there’s definitely a different picture,” Aurora Interim Police Chief Heather Morris said in a Facebook video, according to USA Today. “I’m not saying there aren’t gang members that don’t live in this community.”

The controversy surrounding the Aspen Grove apartment complex continues as residents and officials grapple with the fallout from the deal and the continued presence of gang activity in the area.