Venezuelan gang members accused of assaulting Athens man

By Joe Johnson Members of a violent Venezuelan gang have been accused of assaulting an Athens man last week at westside apartment complex.

The victim was punched, kicked and threatened with a rifle during a March 16 party on Westchester Lane.

The 32-year-old victim suffered a broken nose and he claimed that his attackers had identified themselves to him as members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan transnational criminal organization that police have indicated has expanded its presence in Athens-Clarke County.

Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan national convicted of murdering Laken Riley last year during a sexual assault on the University of Georgia campus, is said by authorities to be a member of the gang.

Arrested for last week’s incident were Gabriel Jose Zerpa-Gonzalez, 31, and Rafael Simon Patino-Silva, 23, both of whom have the same address at Regency Park apartments on Sycamore Drive.

Zerpa-Gonzalez

Patino-Silva

During the assault, Zerpa-Gonzalez allowed pointed a rifle at the victim and struck his head with the butt of the weapon.

Both suspects were charged with aggravated assault and battery. They are being detained without bail pending a deportation hearing.