Notorious Venezuelan migrant who told other border crossers to squat in US homes 'used to be a SPY'

The notorious Venezuelan migrant who encouraged different separator crossers to squat successful US homes and cod benefits whitethorn person erstwhile been a spy.

Leonel Moreno was allegedly a sergeant of nan Venezuelan wide directorate of subject intelligence anterior to crossing successful Eagle Pass, Texas connected April 23, 2023, national authorities told nan New York Post.

They said they person been looking into Moreno's past since he was arrested successful March, but are having trouble uncovering immoderate accusation astir him, arsenic nan Venezuelan authorities has been uncooperative pinch US authorities.

One Border Patrol supplier moreover told nan Post they person 'no entree to thing international.

'I wanted to get into Border Patrol and protect from terrorists,' nan unidentified supplier said. 'And it's like, well, I astir apt fto terrorists into nan country.' 

Moreno remains successful custody astatine nan Ceauga County Jail successful Ohio, but is said to beryllium having problem coming up pinch nan money to prosecute an lawyer - prompting nan judge overseeing his migration lawsuit to continually hold his tribunal appearance.

Meanwhile, nan Geauga County sheriff said he Moreno is behaving while down bars.

'I don't cognize of immoderate problems that we've had pinch him,' Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand told nan Post. 

'He's successful pinch nan remainder of nan ICE inmates.' 

The TikTok influencer gained notoriety successful March aft a video successful which he advised his followers connected really to 'invade' American homes and invoke squatter's rights went viral.

He claimed that nether United States law, 'if a location is not inhabited, we tin prehend it'.

Moreno was referring to squatter's rights, aliases adverse possession laws - a communal rule rule that allows an forbidden inhabitant to get ownership of a spot based connected continuous business without nan ineligible owner's consent.

Many Americans expressed outrage astatine Moreno's proposal arsenic nan video went viral.   

One X personification claimed he was 'promoting terrorism' and asked: 'Where's nan @FBI and @DHSgov to way down this feline and apprehension him?

'Why do we moreover person laws successful this state that let illegals to travel successful and prehend homes they don't own? Our state is getting taken over. And our authorities is letting it happen.'

It later emerged that Moreno travelled to nan US pinch his woman and young daughter, who often features successful his clips.

The family had reportedly been fixed $350 a week from nan national government, pinch Moreno astatine 1 constituent flashing $100 bills successful a video encouraging different migrants to cod authorities handouts.

'I didn't transverse nan Rio Grande to activity for illustration a slave,' he said successful nan clip. 

But those videos apparently enabled ICE to way Moreno down.

He had been wanted by ICE officials, who said he enrolled successful nan Alternatives to Detention programme - which lets migrants connected parole spell free while officials way them until their adjacent tribunal date.

But Moreno didn't show up for his tribunal day successful Miami successful November 2022, and was listed arsenic an 'absconder' from nan program.

Following his arrest, Moreno claimed he was a unfortunate of persecution. 

'I americium successful threat of decease successful nan US! I request protection! I americium being persecuted! My relationship has been blocked!' he told his followers successful a video, arsenic he visibly sobbed.

'My people, I request you to salary attraction to what's happening because my family is connected danger. They erased my TikTok accounts. I person received threats from powerful people. Help!'

In different video he added: 'My people, they person gotten what they wanted! The envy has reached my family! Everything that's happening is because of your evilness!

'They want to soundlessness me!'

In different video from nan Ohio prison, Moreno was heard complaining astir his conviction.

'I came present to nan United States because of persecution successful my country...But they're doing nan aforesaid point to maine successful nan United States-- persecuting me,' Moreno said.

'It's each misinformation successful nan media astir me. They're defaming me, They're misrepresenting maine successful nan news... I americium a bully father, a bully son, a bully person, humble, respectful to group who respect me.' 

But Moreno whitethorn now besides beryllium connected nan hook for weapon charges, aft he was seen successful 1 of his videos brandishing a ample firearm successful a weapon shop and asking his followers which limb they for illustration best.

The video was flagged to Immigration and Customs Enforcement by nan Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Sources told nan Post nan charges apt subordinate to violations of nan Gun Control Act which prevents parolees from possessing, shipping, transporting aliases receiving firearms aliases ammunition. 

Any imaginable further charges would 'escalate' nan lawsuit against Moreno, erstwhile ICE section agency head John Fabbricatore told nan Post.

'Charges nether [Gun Control Act section] 922.g are a superior matter and tin consequence successful important ineligible consequences for Moreno.

'This should beryllium a informing to immoderate forbidden aliens that possessing a firearm unlawfully will consequence successful criminal charges and hopefully lead to a conviction,' Fabbricatore explained.