Circuit Wire — a daily news update from the Circuit.

The U.S. government has offered up to $50 million in combined rewards for three alleged leaders of Tren de Aragua, the gang Washington designates a foreign terrorist organization, the Justice Department announced on Thursday, November 5. The rewards come through the State Department's Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program.

Yohan José Romero, 48, known as "Yohan Petrica," now carries a reward of up to $20 million, up from $4 million. Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, 37, known as "El Viejo," is worth up to $15 million, up from $5 million. He is also on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Juan Gabriel Rivas Núñez, 44, known as "Juancho," is a new addition at up to $15 million. The rewards apply to information leading to arrests or convictions in any country, according to the Victoria Advocate.

All three men are charged in the Southern District of Texas. A six-count indictment from 2025 accuses them of conspiracy to provide, and providing, material support to Tren de Aragua. A nine-count third superseding indictment, returned in July 2026 and unsealed this week, is the basis for the new reward offers. Mosquera Serrano also faces cocaine manufacturing and distribution charges. The Justice Department's release does not say where any of the three is believed to be.

Prosecutors list kidnapping and extortion among the group's alleged crimes, alongside murder, assault, drug and firearms trafficking, sex trafficking, robbery, theft and fraud. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas says the conspiracy targeted or carried out ATM jackpotting attacks in 47 states, the District of Columbia and several foreign countries. Those schemes allegedly stole millions of dollars from financial institutions. The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The case was built by Homeland Security Task Force Houston, which draws on the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the DEA, ATF, the U.S. Marshals Service and several Texas agencies. Colombian National Police and the Colombian Attorney General's Office also gave significant assistance.

Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department has charged more than 350 Tren de Aragua members and associates since President Trump returned to office. Under Secretary of State Thomas G. DiNanno called such organizations "the most urgent security threat in our hemisphere."

Want a weekly roundup of the major stories shaping the security industry? The On The Circuit newsletter is read by more than 12,000 protection professionals.

Spotted something we should cover? Send tips and feedback via circuit-magazine.com.