Peruvian Gang Leader Wanted For 23 Killings Captured In Endicott, New York

On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, U.S. immigration officials detained a notorious Peruvian gang leader, Gianfranco Torres-Navarro, who is wanted in his home country for nearly two dozen murders. Torres-Navarro was arrested in Endicott.

Torres-Navarro, 38, entered the U.S. illegally at the Texas-Mexico border on May 16 and was initially apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol near Roma, Texas, on the same day. However, he was released into the U.S. with a notice to appear for immigration proceedings. It was not until almost two months later that federal authorities became aware of Torres-Navarro's alleged involvement in 23 killings in Peru.

Peruvian authorities believe that Torres-Navarro fled the country following the murder of retired police officer Cesar Quegua Herrera at a restaurant in San Miguel.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed that Torres-Navarro's capture also led to the arrest of his partner, Mishelle Sol Ivanna Ortíz Ubillús, in a coordinated effort to dismantle their criminal activities.

Peruvian authorities have implicated Ortíz Ubillús as Torres-Navarro's right-hand man, describing her as playing a prominent role in their criminal organization, known as "Los Killers de Ventanilla y Callao."

Thomas Brophy, director of enforcement removal operations for ICE's Buffalo field office, emphasized the significance of this apprehension, stating that Torres-Navarro poses a "significant threat to our communities" and underlining their resolve to prevent New York from becoming a safe haven for dangerous noncitizens.

The Peruvian gang, "Los Killers de Ventanilla y Callao," has been accused of using violence to maintain control over their criminal activities, particularly in extorting construction companies and eliminating rival gangs seeking to encroach on their territory.

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Torres-Navarro is being held at a federal detention facility near Buffalo pending an immigration hearing.