Large Scale Drug Trafficking Organization Taken Down In Colorado Springs

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:

• Approximately 70 pounds of methamphetamine
• Approximately 15 pounds of heroin
• Approximately 4 pounds of cocaine
• Approximately 3,100 fentanyl pills
• Approximately $140,000.00 in US currency
• 29 Firearms (including: semi -automatic handguns, assault rifles and shotguns)

Those arrested include:

United States v. Jesse Santiago Anaya et al  (19-cr-234-PAB) (4 defendants)

• • 1,413 grams of methamphetamine
  • 263.2 grams of cocaine
  • 89.3 grams of heroin
  • 13 guns
     

United States v. Missael Leyva Castro (19-cr-172-CMA) (1 defendant)

• • 3,703 grams of methamphetamine
  • 210 grams of heroin
  • 1 gun
     

United States v. Cristian Diaz De Leon Beltran (19-cr-071-RM) (1 defendant)

• • 1,764 grams of heroin
  • 5,868 grams of methamphetamine
  • 1 gun

United States v. Maria Ruiz Del Carmen Gutierrez et al (19-cr-236-REB) (3 defendants)

• • 12,431 grams of methamphetamine;
  • 2,796 grams of heroin;
  • 1,097.4 grams of cocaine
  • 8 guns
     

United States v. Fabian Perales (19-cr-053-RBJ) (1 defendant)

• • 3,113 grams of methamphetamine
  • 1,470 grams of heroin
  • 3,234 tablets of fentanyl (approximately 330.838 grams) (1 defendant)

United States v. Jeff Skelton (19-cr-030-WJM)

• • 1,909 grams of methamphetamine
     

United States v. Octavio Solis-Garcia (19-cr-103-WJM) (1 defendant)

• • 70 grams of cocaine
  • 2 guns
     

United States v. Daniel James Ingham (19-cr-175-WYD) (1 defendant)

• • 20 grams of heroin
  • 1 gun

“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.