A suspected Venezuelan gang member and illegal immigrant has been arrested in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, on multiple charges, including sexual assault and child abuse. Alejandro Jose Coronel Zarate, 26, is accused of attacking a juvenile female and an adult woman in a physical and sexual altercation, according to a press release from Prairie du Chien Police Chief Kyle Teynor. Zarate is now facing an ICE detainer due to his status as a non-U.S. citizen.

Zarate, believed to be affiliated with the violent Venezuelan gang “Tren de Aragua,” was arrested after police responded to a disturbance call on September 5, 2024. Officers arrived on East Wells Street to find that both a juvenile and an adult woman had been harmed, according to WXOW. 

The juvenile suffered injuries during the physical altercation, while the adult woman was also subjected to sexual violence. Zarate was taken into custody and faces a list of serious charges, including domestic battery, strangulation, and two counts of second-degree sexual assault.

According to court records, Zarate has been wanted in Dane County, Wisconsin, since 2023, for previous charges related to strangulation, battery, and false imprisonment. His affiliation with “Tren de Aragua,” a gang known for violent crimes, including homicide and human trafficking, adds another layer of concern for law enforcement. 

Chief Teynor emphasized the risks posed by transnational criminal organizations and underscored the need for vigilance in the community. Illegal immigrants continue to flood the United States and in Wisconsin leading up to the 2024 Presidential election.