Treasury Department Disrupts Money Laundering Network Backing Venezuelan Criminal Group
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has taken action against a network of individuals and entities involved in money laundering operations supporting the Tren de Aragua (TdA) criminal association, a Venezuela-based group with expanding regional influence. The sanctions aim to disrupt the financial infrastructure enabling TdA’s illicit activities.
Today’s action designates six individuals – Kenffersso Jhosue Sevilla Arteaga, Richard Jose Espinal Quintero, Noe Manases Aponte Cordova, Asdrubal Rafael Escobar Cabrera, and Cheison Royer Guerrero palma – for their connection to TdA. Cheison Royer Guerrero Palma, specifically, is a half-brother of TdA leader niño Guerrero and was reportedly involved in the organization’s expansion into Chile. All six are designated for acting on behalf of TdA.
Additionally, the company Yarea y Lane SAS is sanctioned for its financial ties to Kenffersso Jhosue Sevilla Arteaga.
These designations trigger a freeze on all U.S.-based property and assets of the listed individuals and entities, as well as those owned 50% or more by them. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving these blocked parties, unless authorized by OFAC through a license or exemption.
Violations of these sanctions can result in significant civil and criminal penalties. OFAC emphasizes a strict liability standard for sanctions violations and provides detailed enforcement guidelines available online. Financial institutions and other entities face potential risks by conducting business with designated individuals or entities.
The Treasury Department also warns that transactions involving these designated parties could led to secondary sanctions against foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate significant transactions on their behalf.
OFAC maintains the possibility of removing individuals and entities from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) if they demonstrate a change in behavior. Facts regarding the process for petitioning for removal is available on the OFAC website.
Further details on today’s designations can be found on the OFAC website: https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions/20251203.
