Federal authorities believe the migrant TikTok influencer who became a social media sensation for encouraging others to squat in US homes was a former Venezuelan military intelligence unit sergeant of entering the country illegally, a federal source told The Post.
Leonel Moreno, who went viral for bragging about all the money he earned from government benefits, he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE agents in March for skipping the terms of his parole after crossing the southern border illegally.
Since his arrest, intelligence officials have looked into Moreno's history and life in Venezuela, noting that he was allegedly a sergeant in the Venezuelan military intelligence general directorate, according to a source of National Security.
Moreno, 27, crossed the border illegally into Eagle Pass, Texas, on April 23, 2022, and was released into the country, but skipped mandatory visits with ICE, leading to his arrest
Information from foreign countries is often difficult to obtain for border agents trying to protect the country from potential threats.
When it comes to Venezuela, the task is nearly impossible because the government there is unwilling to communicate with U.S. authorities, multiple Border Patrol sources told The Post.
“Knowing who these guys are, we don't have access to anything international. Like, we really don't and it's kind of bullshit,” said one border agent.
“I wanted to go into the Border Patrol and protect myself from terrorists. And it's like, well, I probably let terrorists into the country.”
Moreno remains in custody at the Geauga County Jail in Ohio and is due to see an immigration judge today.
However, he has had trouble coming up with the money to hire a lawyer, so the judge presiding over his immigration case has continued to delay his appearance, sources said.
Moreno has been in jail, Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand told The Post.
“I don't know of any problems we've had with him. He is with the rest of the ICE detainees,” Hildenbrand said.
Moreno before he used his social media platforms to encourage other migrants to come to the United States, where they could get money by collecting government handouts.
“I didn't cross the Rio Grande to work like a slave,” Moreno said in an Instagram clip while waving some $100 bills.
Moreno also boasted that he had enough money to support himself, his wife and their baby for 18 months without the need for a job.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had also been heavy possible weapons charges against Moreno, who was seen in previous social media posts holding firearms at a gun store, according to internal federal documents previously reviewed by The Post.
In a previous interview with The PostMoreno moaned from prison that he is the victim of an unjust “persecution”.
“I came here to the United States because of the persecution in my country… But they are doing the same thing to me in the United States: persecuting me,” Moreno lamented.
“It's all misinformation in the media about me. They're defaming me. They're misrepresenting me in the news… I'm a good father, a good husband, a good son, a good person, humble, respectful to people who respect me ”, said Moreno.
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