(TEXAS SCORECARD) – Search warrants reveal Jocelyn Nungaray’s suspected killers may be a part of the violent Venezuelan gang that has been wreaking havoc on the nation.
In June, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was allegedly lured under a bridge in Houston by Franklin Pena, 26, and Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, 22, after she snuck out of her home. The two men are accused of stripping off her clothes below the waist and assaulting her for two hours before dumping her body in a bayou. Strangulation was determined to be the cause of death.
The accused predators reportedly entered the country illegally through El Paso at different times. Pena entered through El Paso in May 2024, and Martinez Rangel entered and was apprehended in El Paso in March 2024.
Pena and Martinez Rangel have been charged with capital murder, and based on a recent search warrant, investigators believe both men are members of the Tren de Aragua gang.
The gang is notorious for its involvement in sex trafficking young girls and women and exploiting other Venezuelans. The group has also been behind a string of crimes stretching from New York to Miami and now over to Texas.
Investigators searched the men’s social media accounts and found that both used emojis associated with the gang.
The TikTok account suspected to be linked to Martinez Rangel used the ninja, crossed sword, and classical building emojis, along with videos posted of him in Air Jordan brand clothing—which has been connected with the gang—while also doing the hand sign used by other TdA gang members.
Another social media account allegedly tied to the suspect posted a message in Spanish that investigators claim was a call to gang members inside and outside the country.
Pena’s TikTok account had photos showing tattoos known to be associated with the TdA gang. The tattoos include two stars, one on each shoulder, and a rose tattoo on his hand. Pena was also seen wearing Air Jordan and Chicago Bulls branded clothing.
“I believe that Johan Jose Martinez Rangel and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos utilized multiple social media applications and accounts to communicate with gang members about gang activities,” one of the investigators wrote in a search warrant, per Fox News.
The search warrants are requesting more information from the two men’s phones and social media accounts to search for more evidence to tie them to the murder and the gang.
Both Pena and Martinez Rangel are being held in jail on a $10 million bond each for Nungaray’s death.
