Denver Jury Convicts Cocaine Trafficker

DENVER - The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado today announces that Carlos Fernandez-Barron aka “Carlitos” was convicted in the United States District Court for conspiring to distribute, and possessing with intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine.  A Denver jury returned the verdict in federal court today, acquitting him of two other charges. 

At trial, before United States District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore, the Government introduced evidence showing that Fernandez-Barron was a Denver-based member of a sophisticated cocaine trafficking conspiracy, which was responsible for sending hundreds of kilograms of cocaine to Colorado and millions of dollars in proceeds back to Chihuahua, Mexico.  The Defendant’s role was to help unload cocaine from hidden compartments in vehicles, distribute it in the Denver metro area, and then collect proceeds to return to Mexico.  A Denver jury today convicted Fernandez-Barron of one count of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846 and one count of possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(ii)(II).  His sentencing is set for June 4, 2018.

The case was investigated by the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, Front Range Task Force, which includes agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Denver Field Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Peter McNeilly and Special Assistant United States Attorney Wayne Paugh are prosecuting this matter for the United States. The case is captioned, United States of America v. Carlos Fernandez-Barron, Case No. 15-cr-360-RM.

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