The Backstory: A family rocked by a crime network
Javiera, a 20-year-old in Sweden, has spent years living in the shadow of her brother’s activities. He is accused of running one of the largest social-media accounts that advertised criminal work to minors, a platform that drew as many as 11,000 members before authorities shut it down. While the brother has spent time abroad, the violence linked to his actions has unfolded on Swedish soil, leaving Javiera and other relatives targets in a dangerous ganglead that has touched many homes.
Javiera’s awareness of her brother’s conduct was not a surprise to her. When she learned of his role, she confronted him directly, and the conversation left a lasting impression. “I knew what he was doing,” she recalls, “and I was shocked and disgusted.” She chose to act, informing the police to stop the harm he was causing. What followed was not only a legal battle but a personal reckoning with shame and stigma that she found were aimed at families like hers.
Living in fear: danger close to home
The danger did not stop with the allegations. Javiera worried about what the criminal world could do to those she loved—her partner and her cats—because in her world, nothing felt private or safe. She describes nights when the blinds stayed drawn for days, when every sound in the hallway seemed like a threat, and when leaving the apartment felt perilous. “Paranoia took over,” she says. “It could go days before I opened the curtains or dared to step outside.”
She acknowledges that fear was more than a feeling; it was a daily force shaping her choices, even as she tried to protect those she cared about. Yet amid the fear, she moved toward a decision that would redefine her life: she would stop hiding.
Turning point: choosing to speak out
“I’m not guilty of the crimes he’s accused of,” Javiera states firmly. “Why should I feel ashamed?” Her resolve grew from the realization that silence only empowers criminals. “If we as families stay quiet, we give them the power they crave,” she adds, as she gestures toward her home and life she is rebuilding with her partner.
Her stance is also a call to others who shoulder similar burdens. She reflects on the fact that the stigma surrounding relatives of criminals often goes unchecked, leaving many to suffer in silence. By stepping into the light, she hopes to spark a broader conversation about support, without blaming victims and families for crimes they did not commit.
From trauma to healing: reclaiming home
Javiera’s childhood was shaped by chaos: parents’ trauma, a violent father, and a brother who became the household “man of the family” long before he was old enough to understand the consequences of his actions. She describes a life defined by fear, rage, and a persistent sense of danger. Yet she refuses to let that past define her future. Now, she is decorating her space in her own terms—pink anime imagery on the walls, shelves filled with manga dolls, and a sense of ownership over her room and life.
She lives with PTSD, a lasting reminder of what she endured, but she also gains strength from reclaiming her story. “I may have been born into chaos,” she says, “but I am choosing a different path now.”
A message to communities: support, not stigma
Javiera’s message is clear: families affected by gang violence deserve visibility and help. “We are many who live in the shadows, dealing with guilt, fear, and threats,” she notes. “We deserve to be seen and to receive support.” She encourages others in similar situations to seek help, to talk openly, and to lean on trusted networks rather than letting fear dictate their lives.
Where the case stands
Her brother has been extradited to Sweden and is currently in a Swedish detention center, facing charges related to instigating serious crimes. The investigation continues, and he has denied the charges at the hearing. Javiera has written letters to him, seeking to understand his well-being while grappling with the complex feelings of love, loyalty, and hurt.
A practical takeaway: reach out and break the silence
To other families in similar positions, Javiera offers a simple yet powerful directive: don’t be afraid to speak up. “If we keep quiet, we risk letting criminal networks shape our lives,” she says. Her story is a reminder that healing can begin with a single choice to step into the light and ask for help.
Footnote: Javieras brother has denied the charges during the latest hearing.
