Lafond is suspected of distribution/manufacture/intent to distribute drugs; drug possession; weapons offenses and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Colorado Bureau of Investigation records. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Duncan and Zachary Phillips handled the prosecution. DENVER, Colo. (KJCT) - A major ringleader in the Western Slope drug trafficking business has been sentenced to federal prison. Published: Nov. 2, 2017 at 12:18 PM PDT. "They had the houses set up on timers. The amount of drug trafficking that we are experiencing in the County of Montrose has been on the increase over the last decade. Kissell also is suspected as a special offender with respect to importation. This was a big drug bust and it should have a trickle-down effect to a lot of people here in town, Chinn said. I did not like school, and very young I left from home from my parents and went to Colorado, it is where all this started. Of the 13 defendants indicted in this case, 3, including Maestas, have pleaded guilty. Montrose strikes drug traffickers again with 1.8m heroin bust Lafond and Kissell were stopped on the interstate while driving a 2001 Buick Century for which task force agents and their partner agencies had obtained a search warrant. It's official: Jamal Murray, Nuggets are in Phoenix's heads now. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. My parents are from Los Mochis, and I am proud to say it. Devin Booker sulked. Wick Communications, Items law enforcement seized from the bust. A copy of this press release is located on the website of theU.S. Attorneys Officefor the District of Colorado. The investigation used 47 Colorado state wire intercepts, search warrants on vehicles and residences, and undercover and confidential source drug purchases. The press release from the U.S. Attorney General's. The cases against the other 10 defendants are pending. Each defendant faces a minimum of ten years and up to life in federal prison if convicted. Fax Line: (303) 454-0400. Its very good.. With the help of Luisitio everything is excellent. Some are calling one of the largest ever in Western Colorado. Major drug bust in Colorado as authorities uncover possible 'drug Generator vs power station: Which one is right for you? In addition to the drug conspiracy charge, Quijano-Ruiz, Jaramillo-Hernandez, Lopez-Gomez, Cruz-Gomez, Suarez-Lopez and Beltran-Gonzalez allegedly conspired with each other, and other defendants previously charged, to conduct and attempt to conduct financial transactions involving the proceeds of illegal drug distribution, the release said. Spokesman, Public Affairs Officer Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The counterfeit oxycodone pills, containing fentanyl, are produced in Mexico and are known here as M30s, Reuter said. Montrose County marijuana bust yields 1,500 pounds worth estimated $4.5 million News Crime and Public Safety Bust uncovers 1,500 pounds of marijuana, worth estimated $4.5 million, in. Seven additional defendants charged in Western, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Seven additional defendants charged in Western Slope drug ring bust, 64 people indicted in massive Colorado drug ring bust, Colorado attorney who smuggled drugs into jail for client suspended for 2 years, Another batch of fentanyl-tainted drugs being sold on the street, Boulder County Health warns, Greeley police shoot, kill man who allegedly shot at them; no officers injured, Missing Indigenous Person Alert canceled after teenage girl found safe, Missing Indigenous Person Alert created for woman last seen in Englewood. Montrose resident's tip led to major drug bust With my moms blessing and my old mans advice, backed up by my friend Y who is my friend. WANTED: 2 people tied to massive drug bust operation in Colorado, 40 Attorneys Office for Utah / Pexels / DEA | U.S. Drug operation leads to three arrests in Montrose, Mesa County Sheriffs Office responds to shooting, Congresswoman Boeberts Trust the Science bill passes House committee, Former Tina Peters ally Sandra Brown jailed, Community mural: hundreds of helping hands, Murray scores 34, Nuggets beat Suns 125-107 in Game 1, Perdomo, Walker homer in D-backs 11-4 win over Rockies, Defending champ Avs force Game 7 with 4-1 win over Kraken. var today = new Date() $8 million worth of heroin seized in Pueblo in one of the - KKTV "The distribution was probably nationwide.". The dangerous pills sell for about $25 on the streets. For the united Villages. Copyright 2020 KJCT. My daughter, my only female, how much do I love her. Denver, CO 80202, Tel: (303) 454-0100 Montrose Daily Press 3684 N Townsend Ave, Montrose, CO 81401 | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | The MONTROSE PRESS is owned by Wick Communications. It was excellent work between all agencies combined and especially for our drug task force, Sheriff Rick Dunlap said. Keeler: Chris Paul got dirty. Copyright 1998- Investigators seized three handguns, the rifle and five loaded magazines, he said. Close to $1 million has been seized as part of the investigation. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Montrose resident's tip led to major drug bust. The local authorities and task force began receiving information several months ago about suspicious activity in a Montrose neighborhood, Montrose Police Chief Tom Chinn said, though he declined to identify the location. 800 talking about this. GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - (KREX) There were drug busts at several homes in Mesa County as the Sheriff's office assisted the Drug Enforcement Agency in taking down illegal grow operations. Good afternoon, I present myself, with the respect of my friends. This particular investigation also came to include the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Western Slope Drug Task Force and other area law enforcement agencies, including the Mesa County Sheriffs Office, which effected the Jan. 26 arrests. Booking records showed Lafond with a $2 million bond and Kissell with a $100,000 bond. A lock ( Montrose Daily Press | Montrose CO They were bringing them back to a location here in Montrose and how these people have affected that particular neighborhood has, in my opinion, been pretty horrific. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The men arrested are identified as Tan Khac Nguyen, 31; Thien Quang Nguyen, 35; Minh Nguyen, 34; Tuan The Nguyen, 38 and Van Dung Nguyen, 55. Here, La Tapatia is taped off. This impressive collaboration between law enforcement agencies is a true success story for making our entire community safer.. The traffickers probably netted at least $1.5 million per year before their scheme was closed down, police said. A months-long investigation in Colorado Springs ended with the arrest of William Johns on Aug. 4. . (credit: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images). Briceno-Quijano was involved in sending illegal narcotics from Mexico to the Western Slope, where he would distribute the drugs via a phone-order system. Investigators part of the North Metro Task. Once Briceno-Quijano had a drug order, he would send a courier to make the delivery. Some are calling one of the largest ever in Western Colorado. He has been charged with possession with intent to distribute and transporting drugs into the. By holding accountable the high-level organizers of this criminal enterprise and halting the spread of dangerous drugs, we can help save lives in Colorado. Major drug enforcement action in Montrose, 13 people indicted Whether youre shopping Way Day 2023 or Walmart, theres an al fresco set for you. District of Colorado | Montrose Resident Sentenced To More Than Twelve / CBS Colorado. A tip from a suspicious Montrose resident in March about strange activity at a home in her neighborhood triggered an undercover police investigation that broke up a major narcotics trafficking. PUBLISHED: July 6, 2022 at 4:08 p.m. | UPDATED: July 6, 2022 at 5:01 p.m. State and federal authorities confiscated 200,000 fentanyl pills, 9.4 pounds of . Transporting that across state lines enhances the investigation itself, he said. The pair is suspected on suspicion of drug transportation and weapons offenses. Following her prison sentence, Maestas was ordered to serve 5 years on supervised release. A locked padlock DENVER, Colo. (KJCT) - A major ringleader in the Western Slope drug trafficking business has been sentenced to federal prison. Drug operation leads to three arrests in Montrose By (Calvin Corey) Published: Oct. 15, 2020 at 11:23 AM PDT GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) - A multi-agency law enforcement operation that targeted. The investigation, initiated and steadily pursued by the 7th Judicial Drug Task Force, resulted in a Jan. 26 traffic stop on Interstate 70 and the arrests of Robert Lafond and Alicia Kissell plus the recovery of 10 pounds of methamphetamine and weapons. Deput Marion Boister, of HPD's narcotics division. Law enforcement spoke with Montezuma County Sheriff Deputy Victor Galarza, who was a Mexican diplomat to the United States from 1989 to 1992 and focuses heavily on Mexican narco culture. Galarza stated that the song was a personal narcocorrido, likely commissioned by Briceno-Quijano himself. DENVER United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that Angelina Maestas, of Montrose, Colorado, was sentenced yesterday to serve a total of 160 months (over 13 years) in federal prison for possession and distribution of methamphetamine and heroin as well as witness, victim or informant tampering. 64 people indicted in massive Colorado drug ring bust Omar Briceno-Quijano, a 31-year-old resident of Montrose,. In addition to her drug charge, Maestas also committed witness, victim or informant tampering. Glenn is married and has a daughter in college. These people (allegedly) were in the process of bringing these drugs back here to our city, Chinn said. Law enforcement told us . 17, 2019 at 1:56 PM PDT. It (meth) not only impacts our community as a large part, but also impacts the entire Western Slope with this kind of volume coming in our area.. By Tony Keith. This substantial sentence is an appropriate one for someone that caused tremendous damage to a small Colorado community and then tried to undermine the judicial process by intimidating a witness, said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. Authorities announced a massive drug bust operation that was years in the making out of Colorado. Investigators tracked the group through the equipment used to grow the plants and "good, old-fashioned police work," the undercover officer said. I am going up and down in some relatives house, when one day El Guero came by and asked me to take a freight from Phoenix to Colorado, that day is when my luck changed. The suspected meth was located in a backpack in the trunk, along with an AR15-style rifle that was loaded. "This substantial sentence is an appropriate one for someone that caused tremendous damage to a small Colorado community and then tried to undermine the judicial process by intimidating a witness," said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. Omar Briceno-Quijano, a 31-year-old resident of Montrose, Colorado, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The Montrose County Sheriffs Office has been working and will continue to work proactively to combat the drug issues that are affecting the city and county of Montrose. By Ryan Biller | [email protected] |. On behalf of the Montrose County Sheriffs Office, I would like to commend the DEA for its leadership and assistance with this operation, said Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard. In the past 20 years in Colorado, nearly 5,000 Coloradans died from a prescription opioid overdose, according to a news release. The charges were announced Friday by Colorado Attorney General Phil . "We think the majority of this stuff was probably leaving Houston," the undercover investigator said. An investigation into an alleged cocaine distribution ring in Rifle has led to the seizure of 1.4 pounds of cocaine, three firearms, and more than $39,000 in cash, a Friday Rifle Police Department news release states. Following his honorable discharge, Glenn attended the University of Texas at Arlington where he received a BA in History and a commission as a lieutenant in the Army. The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Phillips. Lopez-Gomez would often transfer the funds through Dinero Rapido, a business located in Montrose, Colorado. Police said those arrested . Create a password that only you will remember. Invalid password or account does not exist. "They are still trying to identify additional locations and additional suspects," said Sgt. That berretta never fails neither do my people. Law enforcement told us that this really began with the DEAs recognition of Montroses methamphetamine problem two years ago. Montrose Resident Sentenced To Serve Over 13 Years In Federal Prison Attorneys Office for Utah / Pexels / DEA), Mesa County Sheriffs Office responds to shooting, Congresswoman Boeberts Trust the Science bill passes House committee, Former Tina Peters ally Sandra Brown jailed, Community mural: hundreds of helping hands, Murray scores 34, Nuggets beat Suns 125-107 in Game 1, Perdomo, Walker homer in D-backs 11-4 win over Rockies, Defending champ Avs force Game 7 with 4-1 win over Kraken. The investigation spanned nine months. Police reported that they also seized about $500,000 worth of hydroponic growing equipment found inside eight other houses throughout the Houston area. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. The only other defendant who has so far been sentenced, Joseph Davis, was ordered to serve 151 months in federal prison. DENVER - Sixty-four people have been charged in Colorado for their alleged involvement in what officials called an international trafficking and money laundering ring that dealt with fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin and firearms, according to law enforcement officials. Devin Booker sulked. Five men recently indicted on drug trafficking charges were moving pounds of methamphetamine into Montrose as part of a scheme that utilized courier services, the 7th Judicial District Drug. If you see a Super Duty is because I am on the way. Main Office: They said they discovered a sophisticated marijuana-growing operation and more than 600 plants. This defendant was a ring-leader in a major drug trafficking operation, impacting a small community in Colorado, said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. An official website of the United States government. Jared Polis signs four gun control bills into law, Ex-officer to serve jail, probation in attempted unlawful sexual contact, Shooting for nationals: Olathe archers finish out season, Rides worth the drive: guide to mountain biking in the Grand Valley, Woman faces arraignment in daughter's shooting, Peaview: Picking at the Pea returns for stores 100th anniversary, CRIME ROUNDUP: Plea in fatal stabbing; man charged in ambush of deputy; plea in robbery case, Building, beginning: Olathe Business Cultivator open after the work of many hands. A tip from a suspicious Montrose resident in March about strange activity at a home in her neighborhood triggered an undercover police investigation that broke up a major narcotics trafficking ring, Houston police said today. Police said they watched the men for several months as they shuttled between the houses that had been turned into marijuana farms. A state, federal and local investigation has busted a Colorado drug and money laundering ring with ties to Mexico and 64 people have been indicted by a state grand jury. Thats a lot of methamphetamine that was coming into this area, Montrose Police Cmdr. Suspected cocaine ring busted in Rifle | PostIndependent.com One-in-four of the pills sold in Colorado contain what could be a lethal dose of Fentanyl. Information about the case was released Wednesday afternoon. The Drug Enforcement Agency broke up the drug operation with the help of the Montrose Police Department and the Montrose County Sheriff. On Thursday, the Pueblo Police Department . Our drug task force put everything they had into it, and I think they did a very good job in working the case. Montrose County marijuana bust yields 1,500 pounds worth estimated $4.5 11 arrested in drug bust, updates | WesternSlopeNow.com When you arrest high profile offenders, you should see a reduction in crime overall in your community, says Blaine Hall, Chief of Police for the City of Montrose. Briceno-Quijanos drug trafficking involved at least 12 other people, many of whom are still pending sentencing. Authorities announced a massive drug bust operation that was years in the making out of Colorado. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Thirteen defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury with drug distribution charges following a year-long investigation done by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Montrose County Sheriff's Office, and the Montrose Police Department. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Colorado Drug Overdoses in Colorado: A Statewide Challenge State police arrest 21 people in Wyoming County on drug trafficking Other weapons, also loaded, were within reach of the suspects when the suspects were stopped, Lillard said.