Judge sentences Tren De Aragua lookout to time served

DENVER (CN) — A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced the first of 28 individuals charged last year as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Operation Take Back America” targeting members of the foreign gang Tren de Aragua, cracking down on drug trafficking and ramping up immigration enforcement in sanctuary cities.

Rather than throw the book at 47-year-old Jonathan Ocopio-Villalobos, a government prosecutor asked U.S. District Judge S. Kato Crews to grant a sentence of time served for his role in a drug trafficking operation uncovered by federal agents last year.

“His primary function in this transaction was to act as a lookout,” said U.S. Attorney Talia Bucci. “The government is joining in the defense’s recommendation of time served. Mr. Ocopio was in a different position than the others, he was the least culpable and appeared to be a late addition.”

In the indictment, unsealed in December 2025, prosecutors describe drug and gun sales made by Venezuelan immigrants to undercover agents in the Denver metro area from October 2024 through January 2025. While five of the defendants face murder-for-hire charges after promising undercover agents they could arrange to have a target killed, most of the defendants have been charged with drug and gun crimes.

According to prosecutors in the plea agreement, Ocopio-Villalobos became involved in a 10-pound meth sale on Jan. 29, 2025, when he was asked to tag along at the last minute as a lookout.

Originally from Venezuela, Ocopio-Villalobos had spent most of the last year traveling on foot from Colombia to the U.S. in search of economic opportunity, hoping to send money to his family and five children. After being granted asylum in December 2024, Ocopio-Villalobos entered the U.S. legally through Brownsville, Texas, and made his way to Denver where he saw snow for the first time in his life.

With his own business cards and a promise to fix anything, Ocopio-Villalobos sought work, even shoveling snow during winter storms.

When an acquaintance offered him $1,000 to sit in a truck and stand watch during a drug deal, Ocopio-Villalobos found the offer too good to pass up.

During the operation, undercover agents made sure everyone was accounted for, pulling Ocopio-Villalobos from the truck and into the building where the drugs were sold. There, the unarmed Ocopio-Villalobos stood off to the side drinking Coca-Cola, according to his defense attorney Jason Schall.

“His hands are worn, he is someone who will walk 5,000 miles to support his family,” Schall told the court. “The price he has paid has already been substantial to his present, his future and his family back home.”

Schall practices with Bowlin & Schall in Denver.

Ultimately, Ocopio-Villalobos pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to use a firearm in a drug trafficking crime.

Speaking through an interpreter, Ocopio-Villalobos apologized to his family and asked the court for forgiveness.

“I do apologize for the harm that has been done,” he said. “I place everything in God’s hands and the judge’s hands.”

Due to Ocopio-Villalobos’ lack of criminal history, low involvement in the crime and the fact that he was unarmed during the drug bust, Crews ultimately sentenced him to time served, about 14 months. Rather than being released, however, Ocopio-Villalobos was remanded to federal custody for transfer to immigration authorities, where he will undergo deportation proceedings. It is unclear which country Ocopio-Villalobos will be released to.

Before adjourning, Crews gave Ocopio-Villalobos a message of hope.

“I hope you are able to make it back to your family sooner than later,” the Joe Biden appointee said. “And the hard work that you demonstrated, I hope you are able to put that to good use once you get back to your family.”

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