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Press Release
DENVER – Fourteen individuals have been charged and arrested for illegal drug distribution as well as firearm crimes that took place in Colorado Springs, announced U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn, FBI Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Dean Phillips, Colorado Springs Police Chief Vince Niski and El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder. In addition to the arrests, agents and officers seized methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, cash and firearms.
According to court records, in 2018, detectives with the Colorado Springs Metro Vice, Narcotics, and Intelligence Division (Metro VNI) initiated an investigation into individuals distributing illegal narcotics to patrons at various bars and nightclubs in downtown Colorado Springs and in unincorporated El Paso County, Colorado. Due to the scope of this investigation, Metro VNI requested assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Southern Colorado Safe Streets Task Force. From mid-2018 to early 2019, numerous arrest and search warrants were authored and executed. The following items were seized as part of this investigation:
Those arrested include:
United States v. Jesse Santiago Anaya et al (19-cr-234-PAB) (4 defendants)
United States v. Missael Leyva Castro (19-cr-172-CMA) (1 defendant)
United States v. Cristian Diaz De Leon Beltran (19-cr-071-RM) (1 defendant)
United States v. Maria Ruiz Del Carmen Gutierrez et al (19-cr-236-REB) (3 defendants)
United States v. Fabian Perales (19-cr-053-RBJ) (1 defendant)
United States v. Jeff Skelton (19-cr-030-WJM)
United States v. Octavio Solis-Garcia (19-cr-103-WJM) (1 defendant)
United States v. Daniel James Ingham (19-cr-175-WYD) (1 defendant)
“This investigation proves that when it comes to stopping major drug trafficking in Colorado, great federal-state partnerships make great cases,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. “The Colorado Springs Police Department, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI did terrific work and the results speak for themselves.”
“The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, working in conjunction with the Colorado Springs Police Department and El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, brought criminals to justice for weapons and drug-related crimes,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Dean Phillips. “This positive outcome reflects how collaboration makes us a formidable force in ensuring public safety.”
This case is being investigated by the FBI, the Colorado Springs Police Department’s Metro Vice Narcotics and Intelligence Division (VNI). The defendants are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter McNeilly and Justin DeRosa.
Jeff Dorschner
Spokesman, Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Colorado
303-454-0243 direct; 303-454-0400 fax