Venezuelan Migrant Living in Chicago Faces Legal Troubles
A Venezuelan migrant, Pedro Colmenares, who was ordered deported in 2022, is currently residing in Chicago. He is on probation for possessing a loaded ghost gun and on pretrial release for allegedly battering his ex-girlfriend multiple times. Despite prosecutors’ requests to keep him in jail as a safety risk, judges denied those requests.
Recent reports suggest that Colmenares, 33, is a suspected member of the violent Tren de Aragua gang in Venezuela. Last October, he was arrested in Chicago for carrying a loaded .45-caliber ghost gun in his crossbody bag.
Despite the state’s detention petition, Judge Ankur Srivastava released Colmenares on an ankle monitor. However, a social service agency withdrew their offer to house him after he failed to return from a permitted outing under the SAFE-T Act. The sheriff’s office later arrested him for violating the terms of his release.
Colmenares pleaded guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in January and received probation, community service, and a brief jail term. Recently, he was questioned by CPD homicide investigators in connection with a murder case but was not charged due to lack of evidence.
However, during his custody, it was discovered that Colmenares was wanted for an incident involving his ex-girlfriend. He allegedly threatened her with a gun, forced her into his car, and physically assaulted her over several days. Despite the severity of the allegations, he is only charged with misdemeanor domestic battery.
Prosecutors requested to detain Colmenares on the domestic battery charges, but Judge Sabra Ebersole released him with conditions to stay away from his ex-girlfriend and surrender any weapons in his possession.
Colmenares’ legal troubles continue to mount as authorities monitor his activities in Chicago amid concerns about his alleged involvement in criminal activities.
