Serpa-Acosta’s distinctive deep voice inadvertently exposed his identity, according to Jurinsky. She remarked, “This adds a new dimension to the presence of transnational gangs in Aurora.” Serpa-Acosta stands accused of participating in the gang’s seizure of apartment complexes in Aurora, Colorado. Edward Romero Serpa-Acosta initially eluded law enforcement following the circulation of a viral video in August depicting heavily armed gang members breaking into an apartment at The Edge at Lowry complex in Aurora. Shortly thereafter, the group allegedly engaged in gunfire outside the building.
Just a few months earlier, in May, Serpa-Acosta had been detained by ICE and acknowledged his affiliation with the infamous Venezuelan gang, displaying tattoos as evidence of his ties, sources informed The Post. The reasons for his release from federal custody remain unclear. Subsequently, Serpa-Acosta reportedly proceeded to orchestrate the abduction and brutal torture of a migrant couple residing at The Edge apartment complex earlier this month. A cohort of migrant gang members forcibly removed the couple from their residence and transported them to another apartment within the complex. There, they were bound, physically assaulted, and pistol-whipped, with some individuals returning to the couple’s apartment to commit burglary.
Previous deportation from the United States did not deter Serpa-Acosta, who managed to reenter the country surreptitiously, according to sources. The victims managed to escape their captors by deceiving them and pledging not to contact law enforcement. The couple dialed 911 around 2:30 a.m. on December 17, prompting a police response.
During a thorough search of the apartment complex and subsequent interviews with residents, law enforcement officers discovered Serpa-Acosta disguised in a wig. Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlin disclosed that Acosta had attempted to conceal his identity, suggesting this ploy may have contributed to his prolonged evasion of authorities, as reported by the Daily Mail. Chamberlin remarked, “Whether he routinely employed disguises or did so selectively on that particular day, I cannot definitively ascertain.”
Authorities are now pursuing charges against 16 individuals believed to have participated in the kidnapping, according to Denver news outlet KDVR. Serpa-Acosta presently remains in ICE custody in Denver. His initial entry into the U.S. occurred at the El Paso, Texas border, where he was promptly deported to Mexico. However, he succeeded in reentering the country at an undetermined point, eluding border security agents, as sources informed The Post.
