Image: Metro Nashville Police Chief Drake joined partners at a Justice Department news conference on the indictment and arrest of 8 Venezuelan nationals on human trafficking charges. Two of the 8 are alleged to be tied to the Venezuelan transnational criminal gang Tren de Aragua. Image Credit: Metro Nashville Police Department / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
Another human trafficking operation has been found in Tennessee with links to the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA).
Eight individuals involved in the operation were indicted on Tuesday, two of which are associated with TdA. All of the people involved were in the United States illegally and are Venezuelan nationals.
The two illegal aliens with ties to TdA were a mother and son who were the ringleaders of the trafficking ring. Yilibeth Del Carmen Rivero-De Caldera (known as Rivero) and Klevier Daniel Mota Rivero (known as Mota) ran the operation for two years between July 2022 and July 2024 in the Middle Tennessee area.
The two ran the “family” operation with Rivero’s other children and their spouses and targeted dozens of impoverished women from Central and South America who they lured to the United States with promises of a better life.
Once within the borders of the US, the women were then commercially sex trafficked at motels in Nashville and Murfreesboro. Told they had to pay the group back exorbitant sums of money for expenses involved with bringing them to America, the women were threatened into compliance, and had their immigration documents taken from them.
Both Nashville law enforcement and federal officials are involved with the case.
Yilibeth Del Carmen Rivero-De Caldera, Klevier Daniel Mota Rivero, Yuribetzi Del Valle Gomez Machuca, Willmarys Del Valle Manzano Solorzano, Endrik Alexander Morales-Rivero, Ariannys Beatriz Guiterrez-Carrillo, Frankyanna Del Valle Romero-Rivero, and Jesus Enrique Castillo Rodriguez are all charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, conspiracy to commit interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises, and sex trafficking conspiracy.
Of the eight, three – Yilibeth Del Carmen Rivero-De Caldera, Klevier Daniel Mota Rivero, Yuribetzi Del Valle Gomez Machuca – are also charged with sex trafficking conspiracy for conspiring to use force, fraud, and coercion. “Rivero” and “Mota” used their association with TdA to scare the women into continued engagement of sex acts for profit.
Additionally, Klevier Daniel Mota Rivero has been charged with possession of a firearm by an illegal person.
The defendants are facing a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. The other charges could lead to maximum penalties of five years in prison.
Klevier Daniel Mota Rivero could see an additional 15 years in prison for firearm possession.
In January, a raid on a home that had been converted into a brothel in the Nashville area led to five Hispanic men being arrested and held in custody due to ICE detainers. The men were believed to be of Venezuelan origin.
Investigators found evidence that the house was being used for prostitution purposes and also found drugs at the location.
Homeland Security had been investigating the house along with two others in Davidson County that were also being used for prostitution. One of the houses was the site of a triple homicide last September.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
