Pueblo Man Convicted On Multiple Drug and Firearms Charges

DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that David Wayne Watkins, 45, of Pueblo, Colorado, was convicted by a federal jury on five counts including possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, being a felon in possession of a weapon and ammunition, possession of a weapon in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle.

According to the facts established at trial, Watkins was stopped by Pueblo Police in December of 2023 for a forged temporary license plate tag.  During the stop, Watkins briefly ran from officers before his arrest.  During his arrest, police recovered a loaded handgun from his waistband and a bag and wallet together containing $52,000 in cash, 378 fentanyl pills, and 25 grams of pure methamphetamine. When officers searched his car, they found one additional handgun, numerous firearm magazines and ammunition, clear baggies, and a bag with an additional 375 fentanyl pills.  A search of his hotel room resulted in the recovery of a short-barreled rifle and additional ammunition.

“Violent drug dealers have no place in our communities, and we are proud of the team effort that was involved in getting this repeat offender off the street,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch.

“This felon was responsible for bringing weapons and drugs into the Pueblo community, and neighborhoods are safer with him behind bars,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “FBI Denver leans on successful partnerships with Pueblo Police Department, Denver Police Department, ATF, DEA and USAO to support our common goals. We will continue our steadfast support and commitment to the Pueblo Community.”

“This conviction is testament to the hard work and perseverance of the Pueblo Police Department’s Investigations Division, and more specifically the gang and narcotics unit,” said Pueblo Police Department Chief of Police Chris Noeller. “I want to commend the US Attorney’s Office and the jury for helping to ensure Mr. Watkins is held accountable for his actions and for working to keep this dangerous criminal off the streets of our community.”

United States District Court Judge S. Kato Crews presided over the trial. The Pueblo Police Department and the FBI Denver Field Office handled the investigation.  The Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado handled the prosecution.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Case Number: 1:24-cr-00058-SKC