A suspected Venezuelan gang member was arrested in Wisconsin after allegedly committing sexual and physical assault. The 26-year-old man, Alejandro Jose Coronel Zarate, was taken into custody following a violent altercation with a woman in Prairie du Chien. Police confirmed Zarate’s connection to the Tren de Aragua gang, a transnational criminal organization involved in numerous illegal activities.
Zarate faces a series of charges, including domestic battery, second-degree sexual assault, and child abuse. Prairie du Chien police officers responded to the incident and arrested Zarate at the scene. Chief of Police Kyle Teynor highlighted that the victims knew Zarate, making it a targeted attack rather than a random crime.
Tren de Aragua has been operating in several major U.S. cities, including Chicago, Dallas, Miami, and Atlanta. The gang has a reputation for involvement in serious criminal activities like drug trafficking, human smuggling, and extortion. Authorities have been monitoring the gang’s increasing presence across the country, with recent reports suggesting it has authorized attacks on law enforcement officers.
Zarate also had active warrants in Dane County for previous violent crimes, including strangulation and false imprisonment. His arrest in Wisconsin has heightened concerns about the infiltration of foreign gangs into smaller communities.
As the investigation continues, Wisconsin authorities are coordinating with federal agencies to assess the full scope of Zarate’s involvement with Tren de Aragua.
