The Gateway Hotel, a charming little spot in downtown El Paso, has been a home away from home for Venezuelan criminals (allegedly of course) one that included complimentary chaos, courtesy of Tren de Aragua, a notorious Venezuelan gang.
However, the misunderstood tourists are going to have to find a new place to go now that the hotel has been shut down temporarily according to the Epoch Times [1].
But it took 693 police calls in two years to get it done. Seriously?!! You’d think someone would have shut this crime-ridden circus down a long time ago. But no, it took nearly 700 pleas for help, a lawsuit, and a judge’s order to finally evict the unsavory guests. Were the El Paso authorities waiting for a buy-one- crime, get-one-free deal?
Why fix the problem when you can just keep calling the cops?
Let’s break this down: the police were called nearly 700 times to this hotbed of violence, drug dealing, and even an incident involving a hatchet. And yet, the hotel stayed open for business, dishing out more drama than a daytime soap opera. You’ve got (allegedly of course) aggravated assaults, drug busts, prostitution, fights, indecency with a child and enough disorderly conduct to keep reality TV producers drooling. But why bother closing the hotel down when you can just keep sending officers for the nightly show, all on the taxpayers dime, of course.
Playing catch-up with the Tren de Aragua – Texas-style.
The Tren de Aragua gang didn’t just sneak into El Paso overnight. They’ve been operating in plain sight for quite some time, taking full advantage of border chaos to expand their empire north. Despite their well-known rap sheet of murder, drugs, and human trafficking, they still managed to snag a prime downtown location.
How many violations does it take to lose a license? Apparently, all of them.
The Gateway Hotel racked up code violations like they were going out of style, including operating without a valid occupancy certificate. But did that stop business as usual? Of course not.
Gateway Hotel Owner Howard Yun and his buddies at Gigante Enterprises LLC appear to have had a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gang activities. And who knows how much cash they were raking in off the books (allegedly of course).
Coming Soon: Crime-free stays at the Gateway? Maybe.
Now, with a judge stepping in and a December hearing looming, the Gateway might finally get its long- overdue makeover and become a legitimate hotel again – if it ever was. Allegedly of course.
As for El Paso’s officials? Well, maybe next time it won’t take nearly 700 cries for help to figure out that when hotel guests bring hatchets to check-in, it’s probably time to shut the place down.