FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22 , 2007
LEE ARTHUR THOMPSON AND WILLIAM GLADNEY FOUND GUILTY OF RACKETEERING AND CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE LARGE QUANTITIES OF CRACK COCAINE AT ALPINE ROSE MOTEL IN ADAMS COUNTY
DENVER - Troy Eid, United States Attorney for the District of Colorado, and Jeffrey Copp, Special Agent in Charge of the Denver office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), announced that following a two week trial before US District Court Judge Marcia S. Krieger, LEE ARTHUR THOMPSON, age 50, WILLIAM L. GLADNEY, age 50, and JUNIOR RAY MONTOYA, age 25, were found guilty late yesterday of drug trafficking and related crimes at the Alpine Rose Motel, located at 6251 North Federal Boulevard in Adams County, Colorado. The jury deliberated for approximately 4 hours prior to returning the guilty verdicts. THOMPSON and MONTOYA are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Krieger on May 21, 2007. GLADNEY is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Krieger on June 4, 2007.
THOMPSON was found guilty of racketeering (the RICO violation), operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise (the drug kingpin statute), conspiracy to distribute and distribution of crack cocaine. He was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and tampering with evidence.
MONTOYA was previously found guilty by a jury of distribution of crack during an earlier trial. He was re-tried, and yesterday found guilty of conspiracy to distribute crack.
GLADNEY was found guilty of racketeering (the RICO violation), which includes the jury finding that he committed the first degree murder of Marlo Earl Johnson at the motel on October 23, 2004. GLADNEY was also found guilty of conspiracy to distribute crack, and guilty using or carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
THOMPSON and MONTOYA face a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years, and up to life in federal prison. GLADNEY faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. GLADNEY’S sentence could be substantially enhanced because the jury found he committed murder. All 15 of the defendants charged in the indictment involving drug trafficking and other activity at the motel, including prior and present owners of the motel, were either found guilty by a jury or pled guilty.
On January 12, 2007, a jury found ALVIN “Big Al” HUTCHINSON, guilty of Racketeering, operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, conspiracy to distribute crack, and distribution of crack, following a nine day jury trial before US District Court Judge Marcia S. Krieger. HUTCHINSON, who worked with THOMPSON, is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Krieger on April 30, 2007. He also faces a 20 year minimum sentence , and up to life in federal prison.
According to facts presented at the THOMPSON and HUTCHINSON trials, during 2004, THOMPSON, HUTCHINSON, and GLADNEY, along with others, utilized the Alpine Rose Motel as a point of distribution for crack cocaine on a very large scale. During the trial it was revealed that THOMPSON and others used girls, ages 13 to 17, to distribute crack and to work as prostitutes. In total, the defendants distributed over 1 kilogram of crack cocaine a day using rooms as points of manufacture and distribution. The evidence indicated that customers would drive through the Alpine Rose Motel in order to purchase the crack cocaine, often creating backups on Federal Boulevard. The enterprise also engaged in acts of violence in order to maintain control overs its participants and customers.
During the trial, evidence indicated the co-defendants were involved in parties that included the scattering of crack cocaine to party participants. The parties were held on occasions such as Mother’s Day, Easter, and the Fourth of July. The crack would be thrown from the balcony by THOMPSON and HUTCHINSON, and the addicts would scramble for the crack cocaine rocks on the pavement of the parking lot.
At the time of his participation in the crimes at the motel, GLADNEY was a fugitive from Elbert County, having failed to appear for his trial in Elbert County in relation to the dog mauling death of an Elbert County woman.
“The ‘Motel from Hell’ was solely responsible for distributing a kilo of crack cocaine a day,” said US Attorney Troy Eid. “These criminals are getting what they deserve,” US Attorney Eid said.
“Yesterday's guilty verdict represented the culmination of thousands of hours spent in a cooperative effort to investigate and prosecute a crime organization that used murder and threats to propagate its illegal drug operation,” said Jeffrey Copp, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Denver. “Such stunning verdicts are assuredly noticed by other crime organizations. ICE and our law enforcement partners are putting them on notice that they cannot operate their criminal organizations with impunity. We will find them and do our best to lock them away for a long, long time.” Copp oversees the states of: Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
This case was investigated by the North Metro Drug Task Force. North Metro Drug Task Force member agencies include the Adams County Sheriff Office, Broomfield Police Department, Brighton Police Department, Commerce City Police Department, Federal Heights Police Department, Northglenn Police Department, Thornton Police Department, and the Westminster Police Department.
Special Agents from the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) assisted in the investigation as well as the apprehension of the defendants. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office also assisted with the arrests. The investigation and prosecution received tremendous aid and assistance from the Adams County District Attorney’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jaime Pena and Greg Rhodes.
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