Walsenburg Police Officer Sentence To Federal Prison For Aiding And Abetting The Possession With Intent To Distribute Heroin

DENVER – Gloria Evangeline Suazo, age 32, of Pueblo, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore to serve 60 months (5 years) in federal prison for aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, namely heroin, U.S. Attorney John Walsh and ATF Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Luke Franey announced.  Following her prison term, Suazo, a Walsenburg Police Officer at the time of her crime, was ordered to serve 3 years on supervised release.  As a convicted felon, she will never be legally allowed to possess a firearm or ammunition.  Suazo’s ex-husband, Jeromy Ray Suazo, age 33, also of Pueblo, was a codefendant in the case.  He pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and for conspiracy to distribute and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and was sentenced by Judge Moore to 120 months (10 years) in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Gloria and Jeromy Suazo were indicted by a federal grand jury on June 3, 2014.  Jeromy Suazo pled guilty on September 23, 2014 and was sentenced on December 16, 2014.  Gloria Suazo pled guilty on October 29, 2014 and was sentenced on January 23, 2015.

According to court documents, Jeromy Suazo was contacted while leaving a Pueblo area bar. During that contact law enforcement noticed a Glock firearm.  As the defendant was a felon he was taken into custody for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  After his arrest, he called Gloria Suazo, his ex-wife, who happened to be a Walsenburg Police Officer, from the Pueblo County Jail, asking her to retrieve a large amount of cash and heroin which he had hidden in his apartment.  Suazo went to the apartment, and while there Jeromy called again and described the exact location and appearance of the heroin so she could recover it along with the cash.  Law enforcement officers, who were monitoring the jail house call, arrived at Jeromy’s apartment too late to catch Gloria Suazo in the act.  They later obtained consent to search Gloria Suazo’s home, and located and seized the cash and heroin.  She was arrested soon after.

While out on bond on the federal indictment, and the day after she pled guilty in the federal case, Gloria was arrested in Pueblo for distributing cocaine.  Her children were with her at the time she was selling the cocaine and when she was arrested.  That case is pending in state court.

“When a government official abuses his or her position to provide cover for illegal conduct, we will hold that official responsible,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh.  “In this case a sworn law enforcement officer chose to help her ex-husband instead of following her legal law enforcement obligations, and for that she will now be incarcerated.”

“ATF and our partners from the Pueblo Police Department will continue to target those who possess firearms while distributing narcotics as well as anyone who assists them in the criminal activity,” said Denver ATF Special Agent in Charge Luke Franey.  “This includes those who hold a position of trust with the public.”

This case was investigate by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Pueblo Police Department.

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kurt Bohn.