District of Colorado
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Kaiser Permanente Affiliates Pay $556M to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
DENVER — Affiliates of Kaiser Permanente, an integrated healthcare consortium headquartered in Oakland, California, have agreed to pay $556 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting invalid diagnosis codes for their Medicare Advantage Plan enrollees in order to receive higher payments from the government.
The settling Kaiser Permanente affiliates are Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc.; Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado; The Permanente Medical Group Inc.; Southern California Permanente Medical Group; and Colorado Permanente Medical Group P.C. (collectively Kaiser).
Under the Medicare Advantage (MA) Program, also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare beneficiaries may opt out of traditional Medicare and enroll in private health plans offered by insurance companies known as Medicare Advantage Organizations, or MAOs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pays the MAOs a fixed monthly amount for each Medicare beneficiary enrolled in their plans. CMS adjusts these monthly payments to account for various “risk” factors that affect expected health expenditures for the beneficiary. In general, CMS pays MAOs more for sicker beneficiaries expected to incur higher healthcare costs and less for healthier beneficiaries expected to incur lower costs. To make these “risk adjustments,” CMS collects medical diagnosis codes from the MAOs. The diagnoses must be supported by the medical record of a face-to-face visit between a patient and a provider, and for outpatient visits, must have required or affected patient care, treatment, or management at the visit.
Kaiser owns and operates MAOs that offer MA plans to beneficiaries across the country. In a complaint filed in the Northern District of California in October 2021, the United States alleged that Kaiser engaged in a scheme in California and Colorado to improperly increase its risk adjustment payments. Specifically, the United States alleged that Kaiser systematically pressured its physicians to alter medical records after patient visits to add diagnoses that the physicians had not considered or addressed at those visits, in violation of CMS rules.
“More than half of our nation’s Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, and the government expects those who participate in the program to provide truthful and accurate information,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s resolution sends the clear message that the United States holds healthcare providers and plans accountable when they knowingly submit or cause to be submitted false information to CMS to obtain inflated Medicare payments.”
“Medicare Advantage is a vital program that must serve patients’ needs, not corporate profits,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “Fraud on Medicare costs the public billions annually, so when a health plan knowingly submits false information to obtain higher payments, everyone — from beneficiaries to taxpayers — loses. We have an obligation to protect the American taxpayer from waste, fraud, and abuse and we will relentlessly pursue individuals and organizations that compromise the integrity of the Medicare program.”
“The federal government supports the health care of millions of beneficiaries by paying hundreds of billions of dollars every year to Medicare Advantage Plans,” said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado. “Medicare relies on the accuracy of the information submitted by those plans. This resolution sends a clear message that we will hold health care plans accountable if they seek to game the system and pad their profits by submitting false information.”
“Deliberately inflating diagnosis codes to boost profits is a serious violation of public trust and undermines the integrity of the Medicare Advantage program,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This outcome demonstrates HHS-OIG’s commitment to protecting Medicare through a unified approach — leveraging the expertise of our investigators, auditors, and counsel, alongside our law enforcement partners. We will continue to hold accountable any entity that seeks to compromise the integrity of the risk adjustment program.”
“Healthcare programs funded by the public are meant to support patients, not pad corporate bottom lines. False claims and the submission of fraudulent information weaken the Medicare system and place an unfair cost on American taxpayers who expect honesty and accountability,” said Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani of the FBI San Francisco Field Office. “This settlement reflects the FBI's continued commitment to holding accountable those who put profits over patients and abuse federal healthcare programs.”
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that, from 2009 to 2018, Kaiser engaged in a scheme to increase its Medicare reimbursements by pressuring physicians to add diagnoses after patient visits through “addenda” to patients’ medical records. The United States alleged that Kaiser developed various mechanisms to mine a patient’s past medical history to identify potential diagnoses that had not been submitted to CMS for risk adjustment. Kaiser then sent “queries” to its providers urging them to add these diagnoses to medical records via addenda, often months and sometimes over a year after visits. In many instances, the United States alleged, the diagnoses added by the providers had nothing to do with the patient visit in question, in violation of CMS requirements.
The United States further alleged that Kaiser set aggressive physician- and facility-specific goals for adding risk adjustment diagnoses. It alleged that Kaiser singled out underperforming physicians and facilities and emphasized that the failure to add diagnoses cost money for Kaiser, the facilities, and the physicians themselves. It also alleged that Kaiser linked physician and facility financial bonuses and incentives to meeting risk adjustment diagnosis goals.
The United States alleged that Kaiser knew that its addenda practices were widespread and unlawful. Kaiser ignored numerous red flags and internal warnings that it was violating CMS rules, including concerns raised by its own physicians that these were false claims and audits by its own compliance office identifying the issue of inappropriate addenda.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of certain claims brought in lawsuits under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Ronda Osinek and James M. Taylor, M.D., former employees of Kaiser. Under those provisions, private parties are permitted to sue on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam cases are captioned United States ex rel. Osinek v. Kaiser Permanente, et al., No. 3:13-cv-03891 (N.D. Cal.) and United States ex rel. Taylor v. Kaiser Permanente, et al., No. 3:21-cv-03894 (N.D. Cal.). The relator share of the recovery will be $95 million.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Northern District of California and the District of Colorado, with assistance from HHS-OIG, HHS-Office of Audit Services, and the FBI.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at www.oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/ or 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorneys Braden Civins, Edward Crooke, Gary Dyal, Michael R. Fishman, Martha Glover, Seth W. Greene, Rachel Karpoff, Laurie Oberembt, and Jonathan Thrope, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Lo for the Northern District of California, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Traskos for the District of Colorado.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Former Dental Assistant Sentenced for Tampering with Fentanyl Vials from Littleton Oral Surgery PracticeRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Amber June Hyatt, 47, Evergreen, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison in addition to two years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product.
According to the plea agreement, in June of 2023, Hyatt was a surgical assistant for an oral surgery practice in Littleton. During that timeframe, Hyatt’s roommate found several fentanyl vials and safety caps from the tops of fentanyl vials in a plastic bag in her purse in their home. The roommate reported the findings to the oral surgery practice who reported a possible theft to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. A subsequent investigation discovered that boxes of fentanyl citrate in the practice’s controlled substance safe had been tampered with. Upon testing the substance in a subset of the tampered vials, a laboratory determined seven of the vials contained a replacement liquid and one of those vials was also contaminated with bacteria.
“Unsuspecting patients are put at serious risk when crimes like this are committed in healthcare practices,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “Would-be fentanyl thieves should take note that this behavior gets you a ticket to federal prison.”
“Medical professionals must serve as a bulwark against prescription drug abuse. When surgical assistants violate the trust of the physicians they work for and the patients they serve, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its state and local partners along with the United States Attorney’s Office will step in and use every tool available to protect the public,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Diversion Program Manager George Taylor. “DEA will relentlessly pursue those who divert controlled substances and hold them accountable. There is no excuse for medical professionals to break the law in pursuit of their own gratification.”
“People depend on their healthcare providers to provide safe and effective medication when needed for pain relief,” said Acting Special Agent In Charge Jonathan Lamb, Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, Kansas City Field Office. “The FDA will continue to hold accountable anyone who violates this trust by tampering with patients’ medication and compromising their care.”
United States District Judge S. Kato Crews presided over the sentencing.
The investigation was handled by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food & Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Anna Edgar handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 1-25-cr-00092-SKC
Denver Bank Robber Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Simon Meza, 45, Denver, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison, and three years of supervised release after being convicted at trial in September 2025 on two counts of bank robbery. Meza previously pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in the same matter.
According to the facts presented at trial and to the Court at sentencing, on September 20, 2023, Meza entered the Huntington Bank at 18520 E. Green Valley Ranch Blvd in Denver and robbed the bank by demanding money from the teller. Meza took the money and fled. Eight days later, on September 28, 2023, Meza robbed the PNC Bank on West 32nd Avenue in Denver by, again, demanding money from the teller. Meza took the money, which contained a GPS tracker, and fled. Law enforcement officers were quickly able to track the GPS device to a rented truck traveling near the bank. Denver Police officers tried to arrest Meza in the truck, but Meza led officers on a high-speed chase. During the chase, Meza leaned out of the truck and fired one round from his Glock 27 .40 caliber handgun, striking the pursuing police vehicle in the front bumper. The chase ended when Meza caused a four-car accident at 44th Avenue and Harlan Street in Wheat Ridge. Meza then fled from the vehicle and was chased and arrested by Denver Police. Officers found the stolen money and loaded Glock 27 .40 caliber firearm in the truck.
“This conviction and sentence should send a clear message to anyone considering robbing a bank in Colorado,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “Bank robbery is a serious crime with serious penalties that you will pay. Colorado is safer with this repeat offender serving a lengthy sentence in federal prison.”
“Here we have a previous offender who could have taken advantage of state and federal opportunities to rehabilitate himself. Instead, he robbed two banks and fired on the officer who gave chase when he fled. Clearly the community is safer with this defendant back behind bars,” said Marvin Massey, Acting Special Agent In Charge of FBI Denver. “The FBI Denver Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task force will continue to work with our local partners to get violent offenders like this off the streets.”
United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the sentencing.
This case was investigated by the FBI Denver Field Office, the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, and the Denver Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Dunn and Thomas Minser handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 1:23-cr-00446-RMR
Littleton Man Indicted for Filing $3 Million in False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
DENVER - The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Anthony Dattilo, 34, of Littleton, was indicted by a federal grand jury on three counts of wire fraud, three counts of false claims, and two counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.
According to the indictment, Dattilo devised a scheme to defraud and obtain money from the United States Department of Treasury, namely the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), by making false statements on tax returns which he filed with the IRS. Those false returns caused the IRS to refund Dattilo more than $3 million.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Neff.
Case Number: 25-cr-00345-SKC
Pueblo Man Sentenced to 248 Months for Drug and Firearms ConvictionsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that David Wayne Watkins, 46, of Pueblo, Colorado, was sentenced to 248 months in prison after being convicted by a federal jury last year 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 firearm and ammunition, possession of a firearm 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.
“We are committed to making Pueblo safer, and putting Mr. Watkins behind bars for the next 20 years advances that goal,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “I am grateful to both our federal and local partners for the excellent work they did to get him and his illegal guns and drugs off the streets.”
“Any community is safer when we can take illegal drugs and guns off the streets,” said Marvin Massey, Acting Special Agent in Charge for FBI Denver. “In this case, the strong FBI partnership with the Pueblo Police Department resulted in a repeat offender heading to prison and the community being in a better situation as a result.”
“I want to commend the hard work and collaboration of our task force officers, special investigations detectives, and federal partners including ATF, DEA, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Chris Noeller, Chief of Police, Pueblo Police Department. “Their commitment to this lengthy investigation shows what can be achieved when law enforcement agencies work together to bring a dangerous offender to justice. We remain committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to hold offenders accountable and to ensure our community remains a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.”
United States District Judge S. Kato Crews presided over the sentencing. 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
Nigerian Man Convicted on Multiple Charges Including Wire Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Ikponmwosa Erhinmwinrose, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, was convicted by a federal jury on six counts of wire fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of wire fraud conspiracy, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Erhinmwinrose and other conspirators in his fraud ring stole more than $7.6 million in government benefits from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, multiple state unemployment insurance programs including from the state of Colorado, and tax refunds. The economic relief programs were launched by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To obtain these benefits, Erhinmwinrose and other conspirators in his fraud ring used the stolen identities of more than 1,000 victims. As a result of Erhinmwinrose’s actions, identity-theft victims never received IRS stimulus payments, received letters in the mail stating that they had to start repaying loans that Erhinmwinrose had taken out in their names, and faced backlash on social media because others thought they had taken out large loans that in fact went to Erhinmwinrose and other members of his fraud ring. To facilitate the criminal activity, Erhinmwinrose created dozens of email accounts under false names to impersonate real individuals and businesses, worked with conspirators to submit fraudulent applications for benefits, and then instructed a network of conspirators to launder the proceeds through multiple bank accounts before converting the money to cash or transferring it overseas.
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the trial.
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, FDIC Office of Inspector General, Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General handled the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Craig Fansler and Sonia Dave handled the prosecution.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
Case Number: 1-23-cr-00300-CNS
Justice Department Highlights Nationwide Crackdown on Tren de AraguaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice announced the unsealing of multiple indictments against more than 70 individuals, including leaders and members of designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA), linked to various violent crimes inside and outside the United States, including murder, robbery, extortion, kidnapping, money laundering, and controlled substance trafficking. These actions include indictments across five U.S. Attorney offices, including the District of Colorado, District of Nebraska, District of New Mexico, Southern District of New York, and the Southern District of Texas.
Since January 20, 2025, the Department has federally indicted over 260 members of TdA.
“Immediately upon taking office, I directed the Department of Justice to fiercely pursue the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This latest multi-state series of charges underscores the Trump Administration's unwavering commitment to restoring public safety, dismantling violent trafficking networks, and ridding our country of Tren de Aragua terrorists.”
“Tren de Aragua is a terrorist cartel that exploits our borders to bring murder, drugs, and chaos into American communities,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This Department is crushing their leadership, dismantling their networks, and cutting off their money across the United States. There will be no safe haven here. If you cross our border to commit violent crime, we will find you, prosecute you, and put you away.”
“The FBI is committed to investigating members of violent transnational gangs whose actions violate our laws and put American lives at risk,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The existence of TdA is a direct threat to our national security, and we will not allow such a dangerous criminal organization to take root in our communities. Together with our law enforcement partners at every level, we are working to bring these ruthless criminals to justice.”
“Tren de Aragua is a ruthless, highly organized, and rapidly expanding foreign terrorist organization that thrives on chaos and human suffering,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “They exploit alliances with other terrorist-designated groups and transnational networks, including the FARC, ELN, and Cartel de los Soles, fueling instability, corruption, and violence across the region while endangering American communities. DEA is confronting this threat by relentlessly targeting their leadership, financial networks, and infrastructure. Those who align with TdA are standing against the United States and will face the full force of federal law enforcement.”
“The United States Marshals Service makes this point clear to all members of gangs like Tren de Aragua, we are coming for you,” said Gadyaces S. Serralta, Director of the United States Marshals Service. “We will not give you a moment of rest. We will find you. We will arrest you. You will be made to answer for your crimes. We will continue to work with all of our federal partners, to rid you from our country. Together, we are making the communities of America safer.”
“The foreign terrorist organization known as Tren de Aragua has used illicit firearms to maintain and expand control of its criminal enterprise, and imparted untold violence, widespread narcotics addiction, and death in American communities,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Deputy Director Rob Cekada. “The men and women of ATF, along with our federal law enforcement partners, have worked tirelessly to bring the members of this organization to justice. We will continue to systematically dismantle Tren de Aragua and other foreign terrorist organizations to ensure our communities are protected from harm. The days of Tren de Aragua running roughshod over the American public, preying on, and profiting from American citizens is over.”
“These actions reflect the strength of our partnerships and our determination to dismantle criminal networks like Tren de Aragua,” said BOP Director William K. Marshall III. “The Federal Bureau of Prisons is proud to support this mission by providing critical intelligence and secure management of offenders, ensuring justice and safety for our communities.”
A case summary is below:
DISTRICT OF COLORADO:
Two alleged leaders of TdA have been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with a series of crimes in Colorado. These defendants are facing several charges including a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) conspiracy. The indictment alleges that from May 2024 through on or about March of 2025, the defendants conducted activity for TdA through a pattern of racketeering activity that included robbery, extortion, kidnapping, money laundering and controlled substance offenses. The defendants are also charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery and firearms offenses in connection with the armed robberies of two jewelry stores in the Denver, Colorado area in June of 2024.
DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA:
A grand jury returned two indictments charging a total of 54 individuals, some associated with TdA, for leading and facilitating a large-scale conspiracy to use malware to steal millions of dollars from U.S. financial institutions by hacking ATMs. Charges against some of the defendants included conspiracy to provide material support for terrorism, in addition to conspiracies to commit bank fraud, money laundering, bank burglary, and computer fraud and abuse.
DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO:
Federal prosecutors have indicted 11 alleged members and leaders of TdA on racketeering charges, accusing them of kidnapping, brutally interrogating, and strangling a victim in an Albuquerque apartment, before burying his body in a remote desert grave. Some defendants were also directly involved in an armed confrontation at an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, during which rival groups exchanged gunfire and a victim was killed.
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK:
An indictment has been unsealed charging Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, a/k/a “Nino Guerrero,” in connection with a leadership role in TdA operating throughout North America, South America, and Europe. For over a decade, Guerrero Flores has served as either the leader or co-leader of TdA, acting as the mastermind over TdA’s expansion across the Western Hemisphere. While operating from Venezuela and elsewhere, Guerrero Flores ordered, directed, facilitated, and supported acts of violence and terrorism transcending national boundaries, including murders, kidnappings, extortions, and maiming against victims located inside and outside the United States, and facilitated the transport of tons of cocaine from Venezuela to the United States. Guerrero Flores is currently at large, and the U.S. Department of State is offering rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction.
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS:
A six-count superseding indictment has been unsealed charging four Venezuelan nationals, including multiple alleged high-ranking members of TdA, for conspiring to provide and providing material support to TdA, and for conspiracy and distribution of cocaine in Colombia intended for distribution in the United States. According to court records, two of the defendants are some of the topmost TdA leaders, with one allegedly exercising command and control over all of TdA’s criminal operations, including the illegal importation and smuggling of gold and narcotics, extortion, and murder. The two other defendants are also high-ranking TdA leaders who operate out of multiple South American countries and direct operations to include gold smuggling, narcotics export and violent crime.
These cases are part of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), which was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded at the direction of Attorney General Bondi to target Tren de Aragua. JTFV is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country. Those include Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and the District of Nevada; as well as the as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, USMS, and the Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia, has also provided significant assistance.
TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in the mid-2000s. TdA has expanded its criminal network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States. TdA’s criminal activities include a variety of violent and criminal offenses, including drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion. TdA members also commit murder, assault, and other acts of violence to enforce and further the organization’s criminal activities. TdA has also developed an additional source of revenue stream through financial crimes that target financial institutions throughout the United States, including using jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in cash.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Alleged Tren de Aragua Leaders Indicted with Multiple Charges Including RICORead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that two alleged leaders of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua have been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with a series of crimes in Colorado. These defendants are facing several charges including a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) conspiracy.
The indictment alleges that the defendants, Brawins Dominique Suarez Villegas, a/k/a “Chino San Vicente,” and Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, a/k/a “Jovani San Vicente,” a/k/a “El Viejo,” and others were members and associates of the Tren de Aragua transnational criminal organization. The indictment charges Suarez Villegas and Mosquera Serrano with a RICO conspiracy, alleging that from May 2024 through on or about March of 2025, Suarez Villegas and Mosquera Serrano conducted activity for Tren de Aragua through a pattern of racketeering activity that included robbery, extortion, kidnapping, money laundering and controlled substance offenses. Suarez Villegas and Mosquera Serrano are also charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery and firearms offenses in connection with the armed robberies of two jewelry stores in the Denver, Colorado area in June of 2024.
Other individuals are facing federal charges related to one of the jewelry store robberies in U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado case number 24-cr-247-NYW. One of those defendants, Newman Castillo-Delgado, was sentenced to 240 months in prison on December 17, 2025, after pleading guilty to charges including Hobbs Act Robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence in connection with his role in the robbery of Joyeria El Ruby in June 2024.
Suarez Villegas is also charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping, cyberstalking and a firearms offense related to the kidnapping, ransom, torture and disfigurement of a victim in October of 2024 in Denver, Colorado. Other individuals are facing federal charges related to this crime in U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado case number 25-cr-077-JLK.
According to the facts established at the sentencing hearing for Newman Castillo-Delgado related to the robbery of Joyeria El Ruby in June 2024, Mr. Castillo-Delgado and other co-defendants committed an armed robbery of the store, stealing nearly $4,000,000 in jewelry and gold, and brutally beat several employees with a firearm during the robbery. Multiple victims sustained injuries from the attack.
The investigation is being handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Denver Field Office, and the Denver Police Department, with assistance from the Colombian National Police GAULA ELITE unit and DEA Bogota Country Office - Group 3.
In addition to the cases referenced earlier in this release, the District of Colorado this year has announced two additional federal indictments that charged 30 individuals, including Tren de Aragua leaders and members, with drug trafficking, murder-for-hire, and firearms offenses. U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado case numbers: 25-cr-063-SKC, 25-cr-233-RMR, and 25-mj-114-KAS.
The Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Colorado is handling the prosecutions, along with members of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV).
JTFV was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target Tren de Aragua, and is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country. Those include Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and the District of Nevada, as well as the Executive Office for United States Attorneys and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, USMS, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia, provided significant assistance.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). On February 20, 2025, the Trump Administration designated TdA as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
The Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Mosquera Serrano. If you have information, please contact the FBI at +1 281-787-9939 (text/WhatsApp/Telegram).
Mosquera Serrano Poster in English: 2025-7-1-Reward-Poster-Giovanni-Tren-de-Aragua-FBI-TOCRP.pdf
Mosquera Serrano Poster in Spanish: 2025-7-1-Reward-Poster-Spanish-Giovanni-TdA-FBI-TOCRP.pdf
The charges contained in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Case Number: 1:25-cr-00331-PAB
Denver Man Indicted on 21 Counts Including Robbery of United States Postal Service Worker, Bank FraudRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Avian Mayo, 25, of Denver, was indicted by a federal grand on jury on 21 counts including postal robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment, on March 4, 2024, Mayo—along with Brisa Sierra-Silva and Christopher Johnson, who are charged in a separate federal indictment—attempted to rob a postal carrier and then, later that same day, robbed a second postal carrier.
Sierra-Silva and Johnson were indicted and made court appearances in the spring of 2025.
The charges contained in the indictments are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the FBI Denver Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Albert Buchman is handling the prosecution.
Case Numbers: 25-cr-00313-RMR (Mayo); 25-cr-00132-CNS (Sierra-Silva and Johnson)
Three Sentenced for Distribution of Fentanyl That Led to the Death of a Juvenile FemaleRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Destiny Salazar, 36, and Gabriel Orozco, 36, both of Weld County, Colorado, were sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl. Salazar was sentenced to 144 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Orozco was sentenced to 168 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release.
The facts contained within the plea agreements establish that, from approximately July 2021, up through and including December of that same year, Destiny Salazar and Gabriel Orozco engaged in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl using Facebook, cell phones and various email accounts. Kaleb Hale was one of their customers, with whom they engaged in a series of transactions, one of which occurred on July 24, 2021. After Hale completed two purchases from Orozco and Salazar on that date, he and his 16-year-old girlfriend traveled to a residence in Greeley, Colorado. Hale and his girlfriend crushed one of the pills and both snorted a portion. Hale awoke the next day with severe abdominal distress; his girlfriend died during the night. Her death was the result of fentanyl intoxication.
In a prior proceeding on September 19, 2025, Kaleb Hale, 23, also of Weld County, Colorado, was sentenced to 20 months in prison, to be followed six years of supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution of fentanyl to a person under 25 years of age.
“Fentanyl has taken the life of another young Coloradan who had her whole life ahead of her,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “This case should be a warning to drug users and dealers alike. Using even the smallest amount of fentanyl can have deadly consequences. Dealing this dangerous drug can put you in federal prison for a very long time.”
“The staggering quantity of fentanyl we have seen flooding our borders has an impact that goes beyond the initial users, the dealers and the suppliers: This epidemic hurts families and communities,” said Marvin Massey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Denver. “The FBI will root out the supply and bring to justice those who traffic illegal drugs.”
Salazar and Orozco were sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge John L. Kane.
Hale was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Philip A. Brimmer.The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Weld County Drug Task Force, the Greeley Police Department, the Weld County District Attorney’s Office, and the Brighton Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bradley Giles.
CASE NUMBERS: 24-cr-310-JLK; 24-cr-164-PAB
Three Charged in Fentanyl Case Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Felicia Ortiviz, 36, Joe Elijo Herrera, 51, and Alina Serena Ochoa-Luna, 33, all of Denver, were indicted by a federal grand jury. All three defendants face a charge of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. Ochoa-Luna faces an additional charge of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Ortiviz faces additional charges of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and distribution of fentanyl to a person under twenty-one-years of age.
According to statements made on the record in court, Herrera allegedly started dealing “blues” to the victim in September 2023, shortly after the victim’s nineteenth birthday. “Blues” are a common street name for counterfeit M/30 pills which contain illicit fentanyl. Herrera continued dealing blues to the victim until late January 2024 when Herrera’s girlfriend, Ortiviz, started dealing blues directly to the victim. On the afternoon of February 13, 2024, Ochoa-Luna delivered blues to Ortiviz at the residence where Ortiviz and Herrera lived. That night, Ortiviz distributed blues to the victim at the same residence. The victim then returned to his apartment in a student housing complex and died shortly thereafter. The victim died as a result of the toxic effects of fentanyl.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted at trial, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than 20 years’ imprisonment and up to life in prison.
The investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Denver Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by the Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
CASE NUMBER: 25-cr-00327-WJM
Former Fort Carson Soldier Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that John Paul Barsch III, 31, was sentenced to 30 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of production of child pornography. Barsch was a soldier in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs at the time of his arrest.
According to the plea agreement, on multiple occasions between November 2018 and March 2020, Barsch performed sex acts on an infant or toddler in his custody, care, or control; created videos depicting those sex acts; and distributed at least one of the videos to another person who was in the United Kingdom. Barsch’s conduct was discovered when law enforcement arrested the person who received the videos, and a search of his devices revealed conversations with Barsch.
“Crimes against children are some of the most despicable in our society and this sentence demonstrates the magnitude of the crimes committed,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly.
“Homeland Security Investigations will not tolerate the vile and reprehensible exploitation of children, especially by those entrusted with their care. The sentencing of this individual sends a clear and unyielding message: no position of authority or service will shield predators from the full force of justice,” said HSI Denver Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen. “Let this serve as a stark warning—there is no place in our society for such heinous acts, and we will stop at nothing to protect our children and uphold the rule of law."
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the sentencing.
The investigation was handled by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Hindman handled the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Case Number: 24-cr-00028-CNS
Serial Denver Bank Robber Sentenced to 210 MonthsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Flozell Beasley, 73, of Denver, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release after being convicted by a jury of four counts of bank robbery and one count of robbery affecting interstate commerce.
According to the facts established at trial, Beasley robbed two banks, two credit unions, and a taco shop in Denver, between May and July 2023. In each robbery, the defendant dressed like a construction worker and threatened employees with a high-quality replica gun before taking their money and fleeing. On July 11, 2023, the defendant robbed the Vectra Bank at 1001 E 17th Street and left with a GPS tracker hidden inside the money he stole from the bank. He then boarded a nearby RTD bus and was arrested twelve minutes later sitting on the bus with the tracker, stolen money, replica gun, construction vest, and construction helmet in a bag at his feet.
“If you’re thinking of robbing a bank in Colorado, do yourself a favor and find something else to do,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “We will catch you; we will prosecute you; and you will spend a long time in federal prison.”
“This man is a serial bank robber and a lifelong criminal. He has proven that the only way to keep the community safe is to keep him behind bars,” said Marv Massey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Denver FBI Field Office. “The FBI Denver Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and our partners at the Denver Police Department and the Regional Transportation District will continue to work together to target the serial offenders creating fear and havoc in Denver.”
United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the sentencing.
The FBI Denver Field Office handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Dunn and Garreth Winstead 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: 23-cr-342-RMR
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Dealing Anti-Materiel RiflesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Filiberto Walle, 24, of Edinburgh, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license, and one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license.
According to the plea agreement, between approximately August 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023, Walle made a business of obtaining .50 BMG caliber rifles from legitimate federal firearms licensees in Colorado, which Walle then dealt unlawfully in the State of Texas and elsewhere. These rifles are also known as anti-materiel rifles which are designed for use against military equipment, structures, and other hardware targets. Walle conspired with others to conceal the fact that he was the actual purchaser of the firearms. For example, Walle arranged for third parties to complete what’s known as a straw transfer, where those parties completed the required background checks to gain physical possession of the firearms and then provide them to Walle.
The ATF’s investigation also led to federal convictions against others who committed their own firearms crimes when facilitating Walle’s illegal firearms dealing:
Mohamed Savane: 23-cr-468-RMR (convicted of Conspiracy to Engage in the Business of Dealing Firearms Without a License);
Malcolm Johnson: 23-cr-468-RMR (convicted of Making a False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm);
Adrian Cervantes: 24-cr-270-CNS (convicted of Making a False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm);
Torien Pryor-Parson: 24-cr-353-REB (convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Making a False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm and Retaliation Against a Witness or Informant).
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the hearing. Sentencing will be held on January 30, 2026.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Albert Buchman handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 24-cr-00270-CNS
Nigerian Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for COVID-19 Related FraudRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Nosa Edokpaigbe, a Nigerian national, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, ordered to pay $1,408,897.16 in restitution, and a forfeiture money judgement totaling $681,694 after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud and agreeing to the entry of a stipulated judicial removal order. After serving his sentence, Edokpaigbe will be removed to Nigeria.
According to the plea agreement, from around July 2020 and until around May 2021, Edokpaigbe prepared and submitted hundreds of fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applications on behalf of fictitious business entities using personal identifying information belonging to other real individuals. To conceal his involvement in the fraud, Edokpaigbe signed loan agreements in other names, created fabricated documents for the fictitious entities, used a wireless hotspot to conceal his online activity, and used AI-generated images and images of mannequins to bypass the lenders’ identity verification procedures. The hotspot was seized from the defendant’s residence at the time of his arrest in October 2023. He also submitted one fraudulent EIDL in his own name and filed hundreds of fraudulent tax returns using personal identifying information belonging to other real individuals. As a result of the scheme, $1,389,713 was paid out in EIDL and PPP loans, the majority of which was deposited into bank accounts opened using false identities.
“While others were struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nosa Edokpaigbe saw the national emergency as an opportunity to fleece American taxpayers out of almost $1.4 million,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “His shameless exploitation of relief programs which were supposed to be a lifeline for people in need has earned him several years in federal prison and a one-way trip back to Nigeria.”
“Nosa Edokpaigbe took advantage of what he saw as easy money through programs that were created to keep businesses and workers afloat during the pandemic, misdirecting that assistance to line his own pockets,” said Marv Massey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Denver. “His greed affects every American taxpayer, and the FBI will continue to aggressively pursue opportunists who think they can defraud the federal government.”
United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Denver Field Office and the Cybercrime Investigations Division of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Cassidy and Anna Edgar handled the prosecution.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
Case Number: 23-cr-442-RMR
Colorado Woman Sentenced to 36 Years for Creation of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Charlyna Butterworth, 29, of Aurora, was sentenced to 36 years in prison followed by supervised release for life after pleading guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography.
According to the plea agreement, Butterworth repeatedly sexually abused three minors who were all under the age of five while they were entrusted to her care and created child sexual exploitation material of the abuse.
“This is a serious sentence for a serious crime,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “I am grateful that this individual is no longer in a position to harm another child.”
United States District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the sentencing.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Denver Field Office handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alecia L. Riewerts handled the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Loveland, Colorado, Police Department Officer Found Guilty of a Civil Rights Violation for Sexual Assault of a MinorRead the Press Release
DENVER - Following a trial that lasted more than two weeks, a jury returned a guilty verdict for Dylan Miller, 30, who faced a civil rights charge for sexually assaulting a minor while he was on duty as a police officer with the Loveland Police Department in Colorado.
The evidence presented at trial showed that Miller was on duty as a Loveland Police Department officer the evening of August 3, 2023, through the early morning of August 4, 2023. Miller contacted the victim and her friend in North Lake Park and told the victim’s friend to leave. Miller then guided the victim to a more secluded area of the park, where he sexually assaulted her. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado, and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Marv Massey of the FBI’s Denver Field Office made the announcement.
The U.S. Marshals Service took Miller into custody following the jury’s verdict. Miller faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for the civil rights offense. Sentencing will be set for early 2026.
The FBI’s Denver Field Office, Loveland Resident Agency and the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with cooperation from the Loveland Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alecia L. Riewerts for the District of Colorado and Trial Attorney Sarah E. Howard of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
Former Loveland, Colorado, Police Department Officer Found Guilty of a Civil Rights Violation for Sexual Assault of a MinorRead the Press Release
Following a trial that lasted more than two weeks, a jury returned a guilty verdict for Dylan Miller, 30, who faced a civil rights charge for sexually assaulting a minor while he was on duty as a police officer with the Loveland Police Department in Colorado.
The evidence presented at trial showed that Miller was on duty as a Loveland Police Department officer the evening of Aug. 3, 2023, through the early morning of Aug. 4, 2023. Miller contacted the victim and her friend in North Lake Park and told the victim’s friend to leave. Miller then guided the victim to a more secluded area of the park, where he sexually assaulted her.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado, and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Marv Massey of the FBI’s Denver Field Office made the announcement.
The U.S. Marshals Service took Miller into custody following the jury’s verdict. Miller faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for the civil rights offense. Sentencing will be set for early 2026.
The FBI’s Denver Field Office, Loveland Resident Agency and the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with cooperation from the Loveland Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alecia L. Riewerts for the District of Colorado and Trial Attorney Sarah E. Howard of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
Former Federal Employee Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison After Pleading Guilty to Defrauding U.S. Government for More Than $1 MillionRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that James Montoya, 55, of Lakewood, Colorado, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,122,009.47 after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud.
According to the plea agreement, Montoya worked as a federal employee at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) office in Lakewood. USGS is part of the United States Department of the Interior (DOI). During a routine initiative to identify misuse, DOI identified numerous questionable transactions on Montoya’s government charge card. An investigation revealed that Montoya successfully concealed improper purchases for years by submitting altered receipts, and fictitious invoices and other documentation to USGS claiming that these purchases were for IT-related items or services. In fact, the defendant did not provide any IT-related items or services to USGS and many of these purchases were for personal items including, but not limited to, vintage and collectible toys as well as car parts.
The alleged actions defrauded the government of approximately $1,122,009.47 over approximately fifteen years beginning around December of 2008 and continuing through at least November 2023.
“Stealing from the federal government is stealing from hard-working American taxpayers,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “Our office will vigorously prosecute these types of crimes on behalf of American taxpayers.”
“Our investigative staff used data analytics and ingenuity to identify this longstanding, ongoing scheme, which defrauded American taxpayers out of over $1 million over many years,” said U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Katherine Balestra. “The judgment in this case is a strong deterrent for others looking to perpetuate this type of scheme."
United States District Judge Philip A. Brimmer presided over the sentencing.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sonia Dave.
Case Number: 24-cr-248-PAB
Southern Colorado Hospital and Doctors Agree to Pay $650,000 to Resolve Allegations That They Unlawfully Prescribed Opioids and Other Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
DENVER—The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced that Mt. San Rafael Hospital and Rural Health Clinic (“Mt. San Rafael Hospital”) in Trinidad, Colorado, and three physicians employed by the hospital—Dr. Sheryll Castro-Flores, Dr. Joseph Jimenez, and Dr. Douglas McFarland—have agreed to pay a combined $650,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the Controlled Substances Act by unlawfully dispensing controlled substances, including high doses of opioids and dangerous drug combinations, and violated the False Claims Act by seeking payment for many of those invalid prescriptions from Medicare and other federal health care programs.
The United States alleges that, between January 2016 and December 2023, Castro-Flores, Jimenez, and McFarland violated the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act by repeatedly issuing invalid prescriptions for controlled substances, including opioids. According to the allegations, these prescriptions were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose or were outside the usual course of professional practice.
The United States further alleges that the physicians ignored numerous “red flags” indicating the prescriptions were improper or unsafe, including high daily opioid doses, dangerous drug combinations, signs of substance abuse, prolonged opioid use, cash payments despite insurance coverage, long-distance travel to obtain prescriptions, and repeated early refill requests.
These doctors were employed by Mt. San Rafael Hospital, which, the United States alleges, is also liable under the Controlled Substances Act for the illegal prescribing of its employees, and under the False Claims Act for causing claims for payment for these invalid prescriptions to be submitted to the government.
To resolve the allegations, the doctors and hospital have agreed to pay a combination of penalties under the Controlled Substances Act and damages under the False Claims Act as follows:
- Dr. Castro-Flores has agreed to pay $112,500;
- Dr. Jimenez has agreed to pay $112,500;
- Dr. MacFarland has agreed to pay $100,000; and
- Mt. San Rafael Hospital has agreed to pay $325,000.
The hospital has also issued new policies and implemented new protocols, applicable to all its employees, to disallow opioids prescribing for chronic pain management and to ensure that opioids prescribing for acute and sub-acute pain is done safely and meets state guidelines.
“Doctors and the hospitals who employ them must prescribe controlled substances carefully to protect patients and the community from the dangers of overprescribing,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “When doctors write prescriptions for opioids despite red flags signaling that the prescriptions may be invalid, they place the patient at risk of harm and they increase the likelihood of illegal diversion. And, when doctors cause illegitimate prescriptions to be submitted to Medicare and other federal healthcare plans, taxpayers pay for those illegitimate prescriptions. We will continue to hold doctors and hospitals accountable when they disregard these important obligations.”
“DEA will continue to relentlessly pursue hospitals and practitioners who engage in egregious prescribing practices jeopardizing the health and safety of patients and the community,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Diversion Program Manager George Taylor. “DEA, alongside federal and state partners, will not tolerate those that violate the trust of patients and will hold those parties accountable.”
“Physicians who recklessly, illegitimately distribute controlled substances undermine ongoing public health efforts to address the opioid crisis and betray their professional responsibility to serve the health and well-being of the public,” said Special Agent in Charge Linda T. Hanley of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to investigate such allegations to safeguard our health care system’s integrity as well as patient safety.”
The claims against Dr. Castro-Flores, Dr. Jimenez, Dr. McFarland, and Mt. San Rafael are allegations, and in agreeing to settle this matter, they did not admit to any liability.
This matter was investigated by the DEA’s Rocky Mountain Division, and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob Licht.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
A Colorado man was sentenced today to ten years in prison and lifetime supervised release for his role in an online forum that worked to sexually exploit dozens of minor victims.
According to court documents, Steven Glenn Christiansen, 69, of Fort Collins, Colorado used a mobile messaging application with end-to-end encryption to access “invite only” group chats in which users exchanged images and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The members used these groups to share livestreams and save files on third party platforms, typically of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct at the members’ behest. Christiansen communicated directly with other users to request and exchange CSAM. After executing a residential search warrant at his residence, several digital devices were seized containing images and videos of CSAM, and the defendant admitted to possessing thousands of images.
Christiansen pleaded guilty in August 2025 to one count of possession of child pornography. He was previously convicted in the state of Colorado in March 2000 for sexually assaulting a child.
Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Hindman for the District of Colorado prosecuted the case.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Marvin Massey of the FBI Denver Field Office made the announcement.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
A Colorado man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and lifetime supervised release for his role in an online forum that worked to sexually exploit dozens of minor victims.
According to court documents, Steven Glenn Christiansen, 69, of Fort Collins, Colorado used a mobile messaging application with end-to-end encryption to access “invite only” group chats in which users exchanged images and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The members used these groups to share livestreams and save files on third party platforms, typically of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct at the members’ behest. Christiansen communicated directly with other users to request and exchange CSAM. After executing a residential search warrant at the defendant’s residence, several digital devices were seized containing images and videos of CSAM, and the defendant admitted to possessing thousands of images.
Christiansen pleaded guilty in August 2025 to one count of possession of child pornography. He was previously convicted in the state of Colorado in March 2000 for sexually assaulting a child.
Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Hindman for the District of Colorado prosecuted the case.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Marvin Massey of the FBI Denver Field Office made the announcement.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
United States Attorney Announces Largest Meth Seizure in Colorado History, So-Called ‘Kingpin’ Charge Filed Against Leader of Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney for the District of Colorado announces that 15 individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the largest methamphetamine seizure in Colorado history. One defendant is facing the so-called ‘drug kingpin’ charge as an alleged leader of a drug trafficking organization.
Defendants named in the indictment include: Marco Antonio De Silva Lara, Sergio Ivan Arce Lopez, Juan Luis Cabrera Saucedo, Luis Enrique Lopez Lopez, Rigoberto Aranda, Erik Alejandro Benitez Chavez, Robert Shane Gerstner, Joseph Ricardo Menzor, William Joseph Rollins, Brittney Pierce, Francisco Javier Armenta Barraza, Jamie Cash Hoover, Cesar Andres Huizar Guerra, and Trenton Anthony Thompson. Eleven of these defendants are in federal custody, while the remaining defendants are believed to remain in Mexico.
As detailed in the complaint, federal wiretaps, extensive surveillance, undercover operations, and swift enforcement efforts led to the seizure of more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine linked to this organization, including the following:
- In December 2024, agents seized 96 pounds of methamphetamine from a member of the organization on a Greyhound Bus in Vail, Colorado.
- In February 2025, 101 pounds of methamphetamine and a half kilogram of fentanyl powder were seized from another member of the organization on a highway in Colorado.
- In April 2025, over 700 pounds of methamphetamine was seized from a residence in Lakewood, Colorado, along with freezers, propane tanks, and other equipment consistent with methamphetamine manufacturing or conversion. Investigators found thousands of packages of methamphetamine concealed in the corners of containers of fruit.
- In August 2025, nearly 50 pounds of methamphetamine was seized from a residence in Arvada, Colorado.
All 15 defendants face drug charges which carry a potential sentence of no less than ten years and up to life in federal prison. Four of the defendants are charged with money laundering, which carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. Marco Antonio De Silva Lara is charged with operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 848(a), commonly known as the ‘drug kingpin’ charge. This charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life in prison.
“This successful investigation boasts the largest methamphetamine seizure in Colorado history and intercepted more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine before it could be distributed into our community,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “This investigation showcases what we are able to accomplish when we combine the resources, tools, and expertise of federal agencies with the passion, experience, and sweat equity of local law enforcement officers.”
The investigation is being handled by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Arvada Police Department each made significant contributions to this case.
This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Rocky Mountain HSTF comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service, Office of Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Marshals Service (USMS), Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement / Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE/ERO) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
The Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado is handling the prosecutions.
The charges contained in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Case Number: 1:25-CR-240-PAB
Purported Ute Mountain Ute Medicine Man Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Five VictimsRead the Press Release
DURANGO – The United States Attorney for the District of Colorado announces that Lyndreth Hemp Wall, 59, a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, was convicted of sexually assaulting five victims, including a child. A federal jury convicted Wall on 15 counts of Sexual Abuse in Indian Country and Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country.
According to the facts established at trial, Wall held himself out as a traditional Native American healer, sometimes referred to as a “medicine man.” Wall was elected to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council in 2020 and is a former school board member in Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1. Over the course of at least the past dozen years, Wall sexually exploited multiple women on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation under the guise of spiritual treatment. Wall created an elaborate ruse by using traditional elements of Ute healing to trick his victims into believing his actions were part of a healing ceremony. During his “ceremonies,” Wall isolated victims alone and touched them sexually for his own gratification. Wall told multiple victims that, if they told anyone about his sexual touching, the healing would not work.
Over the course of trial, the jury heard from the five women who alleged that Wall had committed sexual abuse in Towaoc, Colorado. The jury returned guilty verdicts for abuse of all five women charged in the indictment. The jury also heard from a sixth woman who alleged Wall had sexually assaulted her in Alamosa and Lone Tree in 2020 and 2021 under a rule of evidence that permits evidence of other sexual assaults.
A sentencing date has not yet been set. In addition to this case, Wall faces two separate allegations of sexual assault in Colorado state court. The charges in those pending cases are only allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Anyone who has information about other possible victims is asked to call the FBI Denver office at (303) 629-7171.
United States District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the trial.
The FBI Office in Durango, Colorado, handled the investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Towaoc, Colorado. Assistant United States Attorneys R. Josh Player and Jeffrey K. Graves handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 1:24-cr-00003-GPG-JMC
Akron Man Sentenced for Role in Romance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that William Chadwick, 63, of Akron, Colorado, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of money laundering. Chadwick was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $228,284.09.
According to the plea agreement, from at least May 2020 and through August 2022, Chadwick laundered proceeds obtained from federal COVID-19 relief programs including Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits, Emergency Rental Assistance proceeds, Paycheck Protection (PPP) loan proceeds and other fraudulent sources on behalf of a woman he met online. Chadwick engaged in numerous financial transactions, including ATM withdrawals and cryptocurrency transactions, involving wire fraud proceeds. In total, he laundered approximately $228,284.09.
“Laundering money which was stolen from the federal government is a crime against every hard-working, tax-paying citizen of the United States,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Our office is committed to prosecuting those who look to prosper off fraud against the government.”
“Chadwick laundered fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance funds intended for Americans that were struggling during the pandemic,” said Quentin Heiden, Special Agent-in-Charge, Western Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “This sentence highlights our commitment to relentlessly investigate fraud in DOL’s unemployment insurance program. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable bad actors who perpetrate these crimes.”
United States District Judge William J. Martinez presided over the sentencing.
The Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General and Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cassidy handled the prosecution.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans dealing with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act created the PPP, a program administered by the SBA that provided loans to small businesses to retain workers, maintain payroll, and pay for certain other expenses consistent with PPP rules. Small businesses could subsequently request forgiveness of the loan after certifying the loan was used to pay for eligible costs.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Case Number: 1:25-cr-00127-WJM
Broomfield Man Sentenced to 48 Months for Ibogaine DistributionRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Ameen Alai, aka Adam Powars, 52, of Broomfield, Colorado, was sentenced to 48 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of distribution of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of ibogaine. Ibogaine is a psychedelic compound derived from the root of a Tabernanthe iboga plant. In the United States, ibogaine is a Schedule I controlled substance and currently has no accepted medical use and has a high potential for abuse.
According to the plea agreement, between April 2019 and March 2021, Alai advocated to others that ibogaine was a means to “reset” the body’s “receptors” to break addictive tendencies. In March of 2021, Alai intentionally distributed one or more doses of ibogaine to a person in Broomfield, Colorado, and supervised the person’s use of the substance. Alai left that person unattended for a period of time and when Alai returned, the person was unresponsive and later died. At the sentencing hearing, the court found that the ibogaine Alai distributed caused the person’s death.
“As the tragic results of Mr. Alai’s conduct make clear, ibogaine is dangerous,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “We want the public to know that, like many of the more well-known drugs in our community, taking ibogaine can have deadly consequences.”
“This sentence underscores the devastating impact of illegal drug trafficking while also serving as a reminder that those who profit from poisoning our communities will be held accountable for the lives lost to their actions,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Special Agent in Charge David S. Olesky. “Make no mistake, if someone knowingly and intentionally distributes a controlled substance that results in death, we will seek justice.”
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the sentencing.
The Drug Enforcement Administration handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Alyssa C. Mance and Michael F. Houlihan handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 22-cr-00339-CNS
Pueblo Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison on Gun, Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Joshua Pacheco, 33, of Pueblo, Colorado, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing a machine gun, possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl with an intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to the stipulated facts in the plea agreement, on October 20, 2023, Pacheco was on federal supervised release following a conviction for possessing a firearm as a prior felon. On that date, the defendant was encountered returning to his house in a vehicle which was later searched, and from which law enforcement recovered numerous firearms, including machine guns, and large quantities of controlled substances, including approximately 351 grams of fentanyl pills and 621 grams of methamphetamine. Officers also recovered approximately $2,000 in cash. Pacheco possessed the controlled substances with the intent to distribute them, and possessed the firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to making communities all across Colorado safer for the benefit of their residents,” said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Pueblo is safer with this heavily armed drug dealer back behind bars.”
“Under no circumstances will ATF stand idly by while armed, violent repeat offenders victimize our communities by illegally possessing and trafficking firearms and drugs,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers. “Together with our local and federal partners, we will unleash every available resource in pursuit of these violent criminals, bring them to justice, and restore the safety and security to our streets that every citizen deserves to enjoy.”
“Illegal guns and illicit drugs continue to drive violence in our communities,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “By bringing the full force of federal prosecution against the most dangerous offenders, we are removing threats from our neighborhoods and sending an unmistakable message: the FBI’s Southern Colorado Safe Streets Task Force is firmly committed to protecting our citizens and upholding the rule of law.”
United States District Judge S. Kato Crews presided over the sentencing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI’s Southern Colorado Safe Streets Task Force handled the investigation. The Violent Crimes and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 1:24-cr-00202-SKC
Justice Department Expands Tribal Access Program to Improve the Exchange of Critical Data with Federally Recognized TribesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has selected six federally recognized Tribes to participate in the continued expansion of the Tribal Access Program for National Crime Information (TAP), a program that provides Tribal governments with means to access, enter, and exchange data with national crime information systems, including those maintained by the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division.
The announcement follows trips by senior Justice Department officials to Tribal Nations this year to hear from Tribal and federal law enforcement officials and Tribal leaders about the public safety challenges faced by Tribal communities.
“Criminals should have no doubt: Indian Country will not be a refuge for lawlessness,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Tribal Access Program gives Tribal law enforcement real-time access to crime data, arming them with the information necessary to identify criminals, track down predators, and deliver justice for victims. The Department stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Tribal officers to restore law and order to Indian Country, and those who target the vulnerable in Tribal communities will be found, prosecuted, and held accountable.”
With this expansion, TAP now supports 154 Tribes and more than 460 Tribal government agencies.
“The Department of Justice is committed to enhancing public safety for the Tribal communities in Colorado,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “The Tribal Access Program is a resource the Southern Ute Tribe can leverage to serve and protect their nation’s citizens even more effectively.”
TAP provides training as well as software and biometric/biographic kiosk workstations to process fingerprints, take mugshots, and submit information to FBI CJIS systems.
The Justice Department began TAP in 2015 in response to concerns raised by Tribal leaders about the need to have direct access to federal systems. Using TAP, Tribes have shared information about missing persons; registered convicted sex offenders; entered domestic violence orders of protection for nationwide enforcement; entered orders that prevent dangerous prohibited persons from obtaining firearms; run criminal histories; identified and arrested fugitives; entered bookings and convictions; and completed fingerprint-based record checks for non-criminal justice purposes such as screening employees or volunteers who work with children.
The following additional Tribes have been selected for participation in TAP:
- Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas
- Cayuga Nation (New York)
- Duckwater Shoshone Tribe
- Pueblo of Zia
- Seneca-Cayuga Nation (Oklahoma)
- Southern Ute Indian Tribe
TAP is managed by the Justice Department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer and the Office of Tribal Justice. It is funded by the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART), the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).
For more information on TAP, visit www.justice.gov/tribal/tribal-access-program-tap.
Nigerian National Sentenced for Defrauding Colorado Woman in Romance SchemeRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Adetomiwa Seun Akindele, age 37, a Nigerian national who had been residing in Minnesota prior to his arrest, has been sentenced to 71 months in federal prison, ordered to pay $1,692,945 in restitution, and a forfeiture money judgement in the same amount after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Upon serving his sentence, Akindele will be deported to Nigeria.
According to the plea agreement, beginning in January 2018, and continuing until October 2018, Akindele posed as a wealthy Italian American businessman, “Frank Labato,” on a dating website, where he met a widowed Colorado woman. In February 2018, Akindele began emailing the victim, and in March 2018, the two began exchanging telephone calls. During these communications, Akindele provided the victim with additional false details about his personal and work background, images, and photos, to substantiate his fictitious persona of “Frank.” In March 2018, Akindele represented to the victim that he had encountered a financial crisis related to his purported work abroad for which he claimed to need money, funds, and assistance from the victim. At Akindele’s direction, the victim opened a cryptocurrency exchange account, where she eventually wired over $1.6 million dollars as directed by Akindele. From there, Akindele converted the money into various cryptocurrencies, laundered it across multiple crypto exchanges and then converted it back into U.S. dollars and deposited it into his own bank accounts. Akindele fraudulently represented to the victim that he would repay her for the requested “loans” to his business. Over the course of the scheme, Akindele executed three fraudulent “promissory notes” to reassure the victim that she would be repaid.
“This sentence both serves justice to the victim and helps prevent this individual from scamming someone else,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “This case should be a reminder to the public to be cautious when engaging with people they meet online - especially when those people are asking for money.”
“Romance scammers are relentless and cunning, preying on trust and emotion to exploit victims,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “This was an egregious case, and through relentless investigative work the perpetrator was tracked down and brought to justice.”
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the sentencing.
The FBI Denver Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Martha A. Paluch handled the prosecution.
Case number: 22-cr-00326-CNS
Denver Man Sentenced to 37 Months, $1.2 Million in Restitution for Defrauding Investment ClientsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Ian Gregory Bell, age 36, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced to 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. The court also imposed restitution in the amount of $1,231,230.14, and a $150,000.00 fine.
According to the plea agreement, beginning in early 2020 and continuing through at least 2022, Bell devised, intended to devise, and participated in a scheme and artifice to defraud investors and to obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises. Over that time, Bell defrauded approximately 30 investors of over 1.2 million dollars. With the money, he traveled on lavish vacations, purchased jewelry, numerous expensive meals, and paid his fiancée’s monthly credit card statements. He lulled his investors based on his status as a licensed investment advisor with previous experience as a managing director at an investment firm. He also advertised no risk investments and provided false statements showing substantial gains.
“Defrauding people who put their trust into a financial advisor is a serious crime,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Justice has been served for those who were negatively impacted by the defendant’s dishonest actions.”
“Bell portrayed himself as a successful investment advisor and preyed on innocent victims for personal gain,” Amanda Prestegard, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI Denver Field Office. “Our special agents are experts in unraveling complex financial crimes such as Ponzi schemes that devastate victims emotionally and financially and erode the public’s trust in our financial system.”
“Bell defrauded innocent victims who had placed their trust in him and subsequently suffered financial losses and undue emotional stress,” said Inspector in Charge Bryan Musgrove of the Denver Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “This sentencing showcases the phenomenal work that Postal Inspectors and their law enforcement partners do daily to bring those to justice who exploit others through fraudulent schemes.”
Chief United States District Judge Philip A. Brimmer presided over the sentencing.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brad Giles.
Case Number: 24-cr-00345-PAB
Denver Man Convicted on Two Counts of Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Simon Meza, 45, of Denver, was convicted by a federal jury on two counts of bank robbery. Meza previously pled guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in the same matter.
On September 20, 2023, Meza entered the Huntington Bank at 18520 E. Green Valley Ranch Blvd in Denver and robbed the bank by demanding money from the teller. Meza took the money and fled. Eight days later, on September 28, 2023, Meza robbed the PNC Bank on West 32nd Avenue in Denver by, again, demanding money from the teller. Meza took the money, which contained a GPS tracker, and fled. Law enforcement officers were quickly able to track the GPS device to a rented truck traveling near the bank. Denver Police officers tried to arrest Meza in the truck, but Meza led officers on a high-speed chase that ended with Meza causing a four-car accident at 44th Avenue and Harlan Street in Wheat Ridge. Meza then fled from the vehicle and was chased and arrested by Denver Police. Officers found the stolen money and a loaded Glock 27 .40 caliber firearm in the truck. Mr. Meza will be sentenced in November.
United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the trial.
This case was investigated by the FBI Denver Field Office, the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, and the Denver Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Dunn and Thomas Minser handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 1:23-cr-00446-RMR
Former Executives Sentenced in $1.9 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Michael Vergato, 52, has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison and fined $20,000 for his role in a scheme that defrauded a Colorado-based data management company of nearly $2 million. His co-defendant, Mark Perlstein, 60, received a 25-month prison sentence and a $15,000 fine.
Perlstein pleaded guilty to wire fraud in June 2025, while Vergato was convicted on six counts of wire fraud following a six-day trial in May 2025. The court ordered restitution of $1,949,023, for which both men are jointly liable. After their prison terms, Vergato and Perlstein will each serve three years of supervised release.
According to Perlstein’s plea agreement, and evidence presented at the trial of Vergato, from 2013 to 2020, Vergato served as a vice president at Arrow Electronics, where he oversaw performance tuning of the company’s Oracle EBS databases, including work performed by Perlstein’s company. Vergato and Perlstein devised a scheme to bill the data management company for performance tuning services purportedly to be completed by a shell company created by Vergato, Oracle Performance Tuning and Optimization, LLC (“OPTO”). Posing as a legitimate contractor, OPTO submitted 21 fraudulent contracts and invoices to the data management company for database performance tuning services that were never performed. Perlstein, in his position as CEO, approved the invoices and wired payments to OPTO.
The scheme funneled nearly $2 million in company funds into OPTO. Perlstein and Vergato divided the proceeds, concealing their involvement by using personal email accounts, other corporate entities, and fake identities. To conceal his role, Vergato used his stepdaughter’s identity to conduct business on behalf of OPTO. At trial, the data management company’s current CEO testified that the company could not substantiate any work performed by OPTO or identify any actual employees or contractors related to that entity. Tax records confirmed OPTO paid no salaries and issued no contractor forms.
In total, the data management company paid OPTO $1,949,023. Of that amount, Vergato retained approximately $874,000, using the funds for luxury vehicles, credit card payments, retirement accounts, and rent. Perlstein personally received more than $1 million through the scheme.
“These defendants’ greed has earned each of them years in federal prison, and they have to pay back every dollar they took,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Corporate fraud of this magnitude undermines confidence in our business community and harms employees, customers, and shareholders alike. These sentences send a clear message: executives who abuse their authority for personal gain will be held accountable.”
"These two individuals plotted to defraud their companies of nearly $2 million, falsifying work that was never requested nor performed," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “They lined their own pockets until their fraudulent scheme was uncovered, and now they will pay the consequences."
United States District Judge Nina Y. Wang presided over the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Cassidy, Bradley Giles, and Bob Brown.
Case Number: 1:23-cr-00302-NYW
Denver Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Walter Conwell, age 41, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison followed by eight years of supervised release for two counts of interstate transportation of an individual for prostitution.
According to the plea agreement, Conwell recruited two victims to work for him as prostitutes and transported them between states. He advertised the victims on various websites and made numerous promises to each victim, to include providing housing, cars, health insurance, and clothing, which he never delivered. He coerced and harassed one of the victims, including withholding her money and property. The other victim was under 18 at the time of the crime. Conwell traveled to Texas and drove the underage victim to Colorado, where he engaged in sex acts with the victim prior to promoting the victim for prostitution.
“Federal prison is the appropriate place for a man who somehow convinced himself it was okay to take everything from these young women and sell them for sex,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to pursuing justice for survivors of human trafficking.”
“Like all sex traffickers, this man preyed on people who were vulnerable. The lack of respect he showed for basic human values is appalling,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “His survivors face a difficult recovery process, but they are now on that path and their abuser is in prison, where he belongs. Combatting human trafficking continues to be an FBI priority as we work to keep communities safe.”
Senior United States District Judge Christine M. Arguello presided over the sentencing on August 21, 2025. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Melissa Hindman and Alecia L. Riewerts.
Case Number: 1:21-cr-00364-CMA
Gambian Man, First Non-U.S. National Convicted of Torture, Sentenced to over 67 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Michael Sang Correa, 46, was sentenced today to 67 years and six months in prison after being convicted in the District of Colorado of one count of conspiracy to commit torture and five counts of torture. Correa’s actions included burning victims’ flesh with molten plastic and subjecting them to repeated, vicious beatings over the course of weeks using a variety of weapons.
“Today, Michael Correa has finally been held accountable for the brutal violence he inflicted on others,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. “The United States will not be a safe haven for individuals who seek to conceal their egregious human rights violations. We are proud to have worked with our law enforcement partners to secure this sentence, and we thank the brave victims whose testimony helped ensure that justice is done.”
“The victims of these crimes carried the weight of unimaginable suffering for years, not knowing whether they would ever see their torturer held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado. “Today’s sentence delivers a measure of justice for them and affirms that the United States stands firmly with those whose human rights have been violated. This prosecution and sentence should serve as a deterrent for criminals who think they might escape accountability by coming to Colorado.”
“Mr. Correa’s crimes were barbaric and uncivilized; they have no place in the modern world,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver. “I hope this sentence can bring some kind of closure for his victims and their families. A standard was set with this trial and sentencing, Homeland Security Investigations will hunt down and bring to justice those that commit these horrific crimes.”
Evidence presented at trial showed that Correa served in an armed unit known as the “Junglers,” which reported to The Gambia’s former President, Yahya Jammeh. The jury found that, as a Jungler, Correa conspired with others to commit torture and personally tortured five victims, who were targeted based on suspicions that they had plotted against Jammeh. In today’s proceedings, several victims described the lasting physical and psychological harm that they have suffered as a result of Correa’s actions.
In March 2006, shortly after a failed coup attempt, Correa and his co-conspirators transported the victims to Mile 2 Prison, the main prison in The Gambia. Over the following weeks, the victims endured severe abuse, including beatings, stabbings, burnings, and electrocutions. One victim testified that his thigh was burned with molten plastic and that he was suspended in a bag and dropped to the ground. Another victim described being suffocated with a plastic bag over his head and having the barrel of a pistol placed in his mouth. Other victims testified to being electrocuted, beaten while hung upside down, struck in the head with a hammer or pistol, and burned with cigarettes. Testimony at trial established Correa played a central role in carrying out these acts of torture.
Ten years after these crimes, Correa obtained a visa and entered the United States in December 2016. He evaded apprehension until 2019, when ICE arrested him and placed him in removal proceedings. He was charged with torture in 2020. This is the first conviction of a non-U.S. national on federal torture charges.
The HSI Denver Field Office investigated the case, with support from HSI agents in Senegal, as well as personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Banjul, The Gambia, and the FBI Legal Attaché in Senegal. The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) significantly supported the case. Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Hindman and Chief of the Cybercrime and National Security Section Laura Cramer-Babycz for the District of Colorado and Acting Principal Deputy Chief Christina Giffin and Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Analyst Dr. Christopher Hayden.
Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also email [email protected] or complete its online tip form at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.
Gambian Man, First Non-U.S. National Convicted of Torture, Sentenced to More Than 67 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Michael Sang Correa, 46, was sentenced today to 810 months in prison by Senior Judge Christine M. Arguello for the District of Colorado after being convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit torture and five counts of torture. Correa’s actions included burning victims’ flesh with molten plastic and subjecting them to repeated, vicious beatings over the course of weeks using a variety of weapons.
“Today, Michael Correa has finally been held accountable for the brutal violence he inflicted on others,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. “The United States will not be a safe haven for individuals who seek to conceal their egregious human rights violations. We are proud to have worked with our law enforcement partners to secure this sentence, and we thank the brave victims whose testimony helped ensure that justice is done.”
“The victims of these crimes carried the weight of unimaginable suffering for years, not knowing whether they would ever see their torturer held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado. “Today’s sentence delivers a measure of justice for them and affirms that the United States stands firmly with those whose human rights have been violated. This prosecution and sentence should serve as a deterrent for criminals who think they might escape accountability by coming to Colorado.”
“Mr. Correa’s crimes were barbaric and uncivilized; they have no place in the modern world,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver. “I hope this sentence can bring some kind of closure for his victims and their families. A standard was set with this trial and sentencing, Homeland Security Investigations will hunt down and bring to justice those that commit these horrific crimes.”
Evidence presented at trial showed that Correa served in an armed unit known as the “Junglers,” which reported to The Gambia’s former President, Yahya Jammeh. The jury found that, as a Jungler, Correa conspired with others to commit torture and personally tortured five victims, who were targeted based on suspicions that they had plotted against Jammeh. In today’s proceedings, several victims described the lasting physical and psychological harm that they have suffered as a result of Correa’s actions.
In March 2006, shortly after a failed coup attempt, Correa and his co-conspirators transported the victims to Mile 2 Prison, the main prison in The Gambia. Over the following weeks, the victims endured severe abuse, including beatings, stabbings, burnings, and electrocutions. One victim testified that his thigh was burned with molten plastic and that he was suspended in a bag and dropped to the ground. Another victim described being suffocated with a plastic bag over his head and having the barrel of a pistol placed in his mouth. Other victims testified to being electrocuted, beaten while hung upside down, struck in the head with a hammer or pistol, and burned with cigarettes. Testimony at trial established Correa played a central role in carrying out these acts of torture.
Ten years after these crimes, Correa obtained a visa and entered the United States in December 2016. He evaded apprehension until 2019, when ICE arrested him and placed him in removal proceedings. He was charged with torture in 2020. This is the first conviction of a non-U.S. national on federal torture charges.
The HSI Denver Field Office investigated the case, with support from HSI agents in Senegal, as well as personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Banjul, The Gambia, and the FBI Legal Attaché in Senegal. The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) significantly supported the case. Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Hindman and Chief of the Cybercrime and National Security Section Laura Cramer-Babycz for the District of Colorado and Acting Principal Deputy Chief Christina Giffin and Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Analyst Dr. Christopher Hayden.
Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also email [email protected] or complete its online tip form at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.
Denver Man Charged in Armed Carjacking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that a grand jury has returned an indictment charging Dhal Buk, 18, with carjacking, using a machine gun during and in relation to a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a machine gun.
According to the criminal complaint, in the early morning of June 25, 2025, a group of individuals approached a man seated in his car in the Montbello neighborhood, pointed a gun at him, and told him to get out of his car. Fearing for his life, the man got out of the car. The group got into the car and drove away. Buk was later identified as the individual who pointed the gun at the victim, demanded he exit the vehicle, and got into the driver’s seat. After driving off in the stolen car and colliding with another vehicle in the parking lot, Buk and his accomplices abandoned it and fled on foot.
That same morning, Denver law enforcement officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert of six rounds of fully automatic gunfire in a nearby park. Officers arrived at the park and detained a juvenile accomplice. Officers also arrested Buk after a foot chase. Officers recovered a modified Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun from the scene of the chase. The Glock handgun was equipped with an extended magazine with multiple live rounds. Investigators confirmed the Glock handgun had been altered to fire automatically and was capable of firing multiple rounds with a single trigger pull.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Denver Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Dunn.
Case Number: 1:25-cr-00237-DDD
Thirty Charged in Sweeping Federal Case Targeting Tren de Aragua Members and Associates for Drug Trafficking, Murder-for-Hire, and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces two federal indictments that charge 30 individuals, including several alleged leaders and members of designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA), with drug trafficking, murder-for-hire, and firearms offenses. TdA has been linked to brutal offenses including murder, kidnapping, extortion, and human and drug trafficking. Many of TdA’s members have unlawfully entered the United States, bringing the gang’s violence to American communities, including in Colorado.
A federal grand jury has charged 28 individuals after a nine-month investigation which began by targeting criminal activity at an apartment complex in the Denver metro area that had experienced an increase in violent crime and drug activities. The 39-count indictment charges defendants with firearms trafficking; using firearms to commit drug trafficking crimes; possession of firearms and ammunition by illegal aliens; and trafficking controlled substances including methamphetamine, cocaine, and “Tusi”—a narcotic drug originating in Venezuela which contains a variety of controlled substances including ketamine, methamphetamine, and MDMA (Ecstasy), and is typically manufactured to be pink in color. The indictment also charges five of the defendants with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. ATF officers recovered 69 firearms through this operation, including automatic machineguns. Many of these firearms have been linked to shootings in Denver and Aurora, including carjackings, robberies, and drive-by shootings.
A separate indictment charges Luis Fernando Uribe-Torrealba, 29, and Luis Henriquez-Charaima, 29, with six counts including a conspiracy to traffic firearms, a conspiracy to traffic controlled substances, carjacking, and a conspiracy to commit murder for hire. Colombian authorities arrested Uribe-Torrealba and Henriquez-Charaima in Colombia on July 30, 2025, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant the United States had requested based on charges in this case. They remain in custody in Colombia pending further extradition proceedings.
Of the 28 defendants in the United States, 24 are in federal custody.
The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations also participated in the investigation. Several other law enforcement agencies made significant contributions to this case, including Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the Aurora Police Department, and the Denver Police Department. Also, the Colombian National Police and the special response element of its Anti-Extortion Division (GAULA Elite) provided critical investigative support. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia, provided additional significant assistance in securing the arrests of Uribe-Torrealba and Henriquez-Charaima.
The Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado is handling the prosecution, along with members of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV).
JTFV was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target Tren de Aragua, and is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country. Those include Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and the District of Nevada, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, USMS, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). In February 2025, Tren de Aragua was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
The charges contained in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Case Numbers: 25-cr-0063-SKC, 25-cr-233-RMR, and 25-mj-114-KAS.
Federal Complaint Filed Against Los Angeles Man Following In-Flight DisturbanceRead the Press Release
GRAND JUNCTION – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that David Leroy Carver Jr., 47, has been charged by criminal complaint for interfering with flight crew members and attendants on a Breeze Airways flight from Norfolk, Virginia, to Los Angeles, California, on August 13, 2025. The flight was diverted to Grand Junction Regional Airport.
According to the criminal complaint, Carver made inappropriate sexual comments and racial slurs toward a flight attendant during the commercial flight. When a passenger overheard and told him to stop, Carver threatened to strike the passenger and threw chewing tobacco from his mouth into the passenger’s face. Another passenger intervened and restrained Carver, allowing flight attendants to place him in zip tie restraints. During the struggle, Carver lunged at a flight attendant, injuring her hand. Carver then freed himself from the restraints, removed his belt, and wrapped it around his knuckles in a threatening manner before flight attendants were able to separate him from the belt.
Carver made his initial appearance in Federal Court in Grand Junction on August 14, 2025, in front of United States Magistrate Judge Richard T. Gurley.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Grand Junction Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Springer.
The charge in the criminal complaint is an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Case Number: 25-mj-199-RTG
Second Colorado Springs Funeral Home Operator Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Defraud Grieving Families and COVID-19 Relief ProgramRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Carie Hallford, 48, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Hallford, who owned and operated Return to Nature Funeral Home in Colorado Springs and Penrose with her husband and codefendant, Jon Hallford, mishandled at least 190 bodies over four years and defrauded the Small Business Administration (SBA) through fraudulent COVID-19 loan applications. Jon Hallford was sentenced in June to 240 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,070,413.74 in restitution for his role in the conspiracy.
According to the plea agreement, from as early as September 2019 through October 2023, Hallford and her husband failed to cremate or bury at least 190 bodies, despite having collected more than $130,000 from grieving families for funeral services that were never provided. The defendants failed to provide the basic core service it promised to some of its customers, either a cremation or a burial, and continued to collect payment from victims for funeral services and goods.
The plea agreement further states that Carie Hallford handled much of the banking, invoicing, contracting with customers, filing of required paperwork, bookkeeping and communications with customers. Both defendants routinely prepared death certificates for the deceased and then filed those certificates with the State of Colorado’s Electronic Death Registry. On many of the death certificates for the bodies found at the Penrose location, the defendants falsely stated that the “method of disposition” was by either cremation or burial when in truth there was no disposition as the bodies were left decomposing at the Penrose location. To carry out and execute the above fraud scheme, the defendant and her husband worked together to cause multiple interstate wire communications to occur.
The plea agreement goes on to state that from March 2020 to March 2022, Hallford and her husband conspired to defraud the SBA by submitting loan applications containing false information to obtain COVID-19 relief funds. As a result of this fraud, they received three separate disbursements from the SBA, totaling $882,300. The funds were obtained through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which was established to provide emergency support to businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On October 5, 2023, federal and state officials searched the Penrose location, where they discovered multiple decomposing human remains in hazardous conditions. The toxic environment posed serious health risks to first responders and the public, requiring hazmat suits and strict decontamination protocols. The EPA later condemned and demolished the building, classifying it as a toxic waste site.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans dealing with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act created the PPP, a program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) that provided loans to small businesses to retain workers, maintain payroll, and certain other expenses consistent with PPP rules. Additionally, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several federal programs expanded eligibility for unemployment benefits.
United States District Judge Nina Y. Wang presided over the hearing. Carie Hallford’s sentencing is currently scheduled before Judge Wang for December 3, 2025.
The FBI Denver Field Office and the United States Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Several other state and local law enforcement agencies including the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the El Paso County Coroner’s Office, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fremont County Coroner’s Office have made significant contributions to this case. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Tim Neff and Craig Fansler.
Case Number: 1:24-cr-00113-NYW
Arizona Man Sentenced to Twelve Months in Federal Prison for Violating the Lacey ActRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Timothy Rawlings, 56, of Laveen, Arizona, was sentenced to twelve months in federal prison for a conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, three years’ supervised release and $45,800.00 in restitution. His codefendant, Howard Wayne Rodarmel, 71, of Baca County, Colorado, was previously sentenced to three years’ probation, $9,164.00 in restitution, and a $2,000.00 fine. Enacted 125 years ago, the Lacey Act protects the nation’s wildlife resources by prohibiting wildlife violations that cross state or international borders.
According to the plea agreement, Rawlings—who owned and operated Old West Guides and Outfitters in Laveen, Arizona—provided outfitting, hunting, and guiding services to paying clients for various big game animals, to include deer, elk, mountain lions, and bears. Rawlings’ company was not licensed to provide these services in the state of Colorado.
Rawlings’ paid his codefendant, Howard Wayne Rodarmel, to provide unlicensed outfitting and guiding services to clients in Baca County, Colorado. Rawlings knowingly violated several hunting regulations, to include shooting from vehicles; chasing animals with vehicles; and hunting in unlicensed and/or unpermitted lands. He also failed to register taken animals, to include mountain lions, as required by Colorado regulations. During the investigation, Rawlings also unwittingly guided undercover agents on an illegal hunt and violated such regulations in their presence, according to the plea agreement.
Rawlings did all of this knowing that his clients resided almost exclusively outside of the state of Colorado, and that the animals taken would likely travel in interstate commerce. The Lacey Act prohibits, among other things, transporting wildlife that had been illegally taken under federal, state, tribal, or foreign law.
“Operating without proper licensing undermines wildlife conservation efforts and the integrity of our state’s hunting regulations,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “We will continue to hold accountable those who seek to profit by skirting the laws that protect Colorado’s natural resources and ensure fair access for all.”
“This was not a momentary lapse in judgment or isolated violation,” said Assistant Director Douglas Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. “For several years, Rawlings and his associates systematically violated Colorado’s hunting and guiding regulations, orchestrating illegal hunts, and facilitating the unlawful take, transport, and sale of big game across state lines for monetary financial gain. Their actions stripped wildlife from our landscapes and betrayed the foundational principles of ethical hunting. Violations like these erode public trust in licensed guides, undermine decades of conservation progress, and tarnish the legacy of fair-chase hunting that ethical sportsmen and women work hard to preserve. The Service is committed to working with our partners in Colorado to ensure that those who break the law are held accountable and that we protect the integrity of our natural resources.”
The defendants were sentenced by United States District Judge S. Kato Crews. The investigation was conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kurt Bohn.
Case Number: 24-cr-00117-SKC
Three Sentenced to Prison in Commercial Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Edward Joseph Chmiel, 50, Henry Lozano, 43, and Sabino Loera, 51, were each sentenced this week for their roles in a conspiracy to commit money laundering that arose out of a scheme to submit fraudulent invoices to a contractor providing services for a Colorado electrical utility.
Edward Chmiel was sentenced to imprisonment for 30 months. Sabino Loera was sentenced to imprisonment for 25 months. Henry Lozano was sentenced to imprisonment for 23 months. Forfeiture money judgments in the amount of $1,495,781.51 were imposed on each of the defendants, who were also ordered to pay that same amount in restitution.
According to their plea agreements and other court documents, Chmiel and Loera worked for a company providing electrical contracting services to a utility company in Colorado. Lozano owned a company providing trucking and hauling services. In August 2018 the three agreed that Lozano’s company would provide those services in exchange for kickback payments to Chmiel and Loera. To generate the money that would pay the kickbacks, the three schemed to submit false invoices from Lozano’s company to Chmiel and Loera’s. Once Lozano was paid for those invoices, Loera would direct Lozano to issue checks to a network of 15 other people. Those people cashed the checks and then gave the cash to Chmiel and Loera. Between August 2018 and June 2020, the false invoices generated approximately $1,495,781.51 in kickback proceeds.
“We are proud to pursue people who enrich themselves by stealing money which was supposed to provide important services for Coloradans,” said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Our office appreciates the hard work of our investigative colleagues at the IRS and FBI which held these three accountable for their corrupt scheme.”
“Corruption such as this always has costs beyond any one company’s bottom line. This sentence should serve as a reminder that commercial bribery and corruption will not be tolerated,” said Amanda Prestegard, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI Denver Field Office. “Our special agents will continue to work with our federal partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute those who perpetrate these kickback schemes.”
“Fraud and kickback schemes erode public trust and undermine the systems our communities rely on. This outcome proves that when agencies work together, we can root out corruption and hold offenders accountable,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “The FBI remains committed to protecting the integrity of our institutions and ensuring that no one is above the law.”
The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sonia Dave and Bryan Fields.
CASE NUMBER: 25-cr-00024-RMR
Pueblo Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Federal Prison on Drug, Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Dominick Jesus Salazar, 52, of Pueblo, Colorado, was sentenced to 180 months in prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm and ammunition despite having been previously convicted of a felony.
According to the facts established at trial last year, on May 23, 2023, Salazar was arrested outside of a Pueblo-area hotel room he was staying in after Pueblo Police Officers saw him interacting with multiple people in a manner consistent with hand-to-hand drug sales. When officers arrested Salazar, he had a loaded pistol in his pocket, along with drug proceeds. Inside his hotel room, officers found 188 grams of methamphetamine and 82 fentanyl pills. Evidence on Salazar’s phone showed he had been dealing drugs out of his hotel room.
“Pueblo is safer because Mr. Salazar is going to federal prison,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “We’re grateful to the committed men and women of the Pueblo Police Department and federal partners like the FBI who are invested in reducing violent crime and drug dealing in that community.”
“When we bring the full force of federal prosecution against drug dealers, we're not just making arrests—we're delivering justice with real consequences,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “The FBI stands united with local law enforcement and will use every tool we have to drive violent crime out of our communities.”
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the sentencing. 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.
Case Number: 23-CR-00310
Two Colorado Springs Residents Charged for Dealing Fentanyl Which Resulted in the Death of a 15-year-old GirlRead the Press Release
DENVER - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Eugene Edwards, 57, and Destiny Benjamin, 30, of Colorado Springs have been charged by criminal complaint with a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl which resulted in the death of a 15-year-old girl.
According to court documents, Edwards allegedly distributed fentanyl pills to a juvenile female who later died as a result of fentanyl intoxication. On June 7, 2025, the Colorado Springs Police Department and emergency medical services responded to a report of an unresponsive female who was declared deceased upon their arrival. Investigators found nine blue pills with the markings “M” and “30” on them, wrapped in a receipt that was later linked directly to Edwards.
According to the criminal complaint, a search of the victim’s phone revealed she arranged to meet Edwards the night before her death to buy pills at an elementary school in Colorado Springs. Surveillance video and license plate reader footage confirmed Edwards’ car at and near the school. About an hour later, video captured the victim outside her home smoking what appeared to be fentanyl. She died shortly after.
Edwards, who has multiple prior felony convictions for drug offenses, robbery, and burglary, was arrested on June 13, 2025, after investigators found suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine in his vehicle, including ten fentanyl pills wrapped in a receipt. During an interview with law enforcement, Edwards said he obtained the fentanyl pills that he had that evening from a female who was later identified as codefendant Destiny Benjamin.
The criminal complaint further alleges that historical cell phone records and text messages between Edwards and Benjamin outline an unlawful relationship based on the exchange of money for drugs—including fentanyl and methamphetamine. Edwards told investigators his only current source of supply for fentanyl pills was Benjamin.
Benjamin was also arrested on June 13, 2025. Law enforcement seized fentanyl, methamphetamine, and a loaded handgun from her at the time of her arrest. Benjamin told investigators she provided illegal narcotics to Edwards.
Edwards and Benjamin made their initial appearance in Federal Court in Denver on Monday July 28, 2025, where they were advised by a United States Magistrate Judge of the charge pending against them.
Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, resulting in death, carries a potential penalty of no less than 20 years and up to life in prison, a fine of no more than $1,000,000, and no less than three years of supervised release.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Colorado Springs Police Department Metro, Vice, Narcotics, and Intelligence (MVNI) Unit, and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office participated in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alyssa Christine Mance and Alexander Duncan are handling the prosecution.
The charge in the criminal complaint is an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Case Number: 25-MJ-00145-CYC
Northern Colorado Couple Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution Linked to Death of a MinorRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Destiny Salazar, age 22, and Gabriel Orozco, age 23, both of Weld County, Colorado, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and to distribution of fentanyl.
According to the plea agreements, Salazar and Orozco used cellphones, Facebook, and email to sell fentanyl pills to a variety of customers. They referred to the pills as “blues," "30s," "percs," "perxs," and "yerks” on Facebook. They also used their various devices and accounts interchangeably, with Orozco sometimes responding for Salazar on her account.
The plea agreements further state that the defendants engaged in a series of transactions with an individual on July 24th, 2021, who purchased six pills in total from Salazar and Orozco. This individual shared the pills with a minor female, who died shortly thereafter as a result of fentanyl intoxication. Both defendants and the individual who purchased the pills were aware they contained fentanyl.
Salazar and Orozco continued to conspire and distribute fentanyl through at least March 2022, when they were arrested on burglary charges. At the time of their arrest, they possessed distribution quantities of fentanyl, according to the plea agreements.
United States District Court Senior Judge John L. Kane presided over the hearing.
Salazar will be sentenced on October 21st, 2025, and Orozco will be sentenced on October 23rd, 2025.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Greeley Police Department, Brighton Police Department, Weld County District Attorney's Office, and the Weld County Drug Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brad Giles.
Case Number: 24-cr-310-JLK
Denver Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Leonardo Medina, age 46, of Denver was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to evidence presented at trial earlier this year, an investigation by the Denver Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) revealed that Medina operated a large-scale drug-trafficking organization in Colorado. Evidence gathered through wiretaps, undercover purchases, physical surveillance, analysis of financial records, electronic surveillance, and other enforcement actions demonstrated that Medina supplied bulk methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to subordinate dealers in Denver and Colorado Springs throughout 2021 and 2022. In July 2022, Medina coordinated a delivery of more than 40 pounds of methamphetamine from Mexico for his drug-trafficking organization. Acting on information they learned from a wiretap on Medina’s phone, investigators in Colorado coordinated with law enforcement officers in Texas to intercept and seize the shipment.
According to court records, Medina has multiple prior felony convictions for drug trafficking. He was sentenced to six years in prison for his first drug trafficking conviction. While on parole for that offense, he was again convicted of a drug trafficking offense and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
“Mr. Medina chose to make a living by dealing drugs which kill people and destroy communities. This lengthy prison sentence puts him out of business,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “We are very proud of this collaboration between the Denver Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office which held Mr. Medina and several of his criminal associates accountable and made Colorado a safer place to live.”
“This sentence is a significant win not only for our agents and investigative partners but for the communities we serve,” said Homeland Security Investigations Denver Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen. “I applaud our agents and members of the Denver Police, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s office on this outcome, this sends a message that those who peddle poison will be found and brought to justice.”
“Thanks to Homeland Security Investigations and our Denver Police Major Narcotics Trafficking Unit, the U.S. Attorney’s Office had a strong case that led to the conviction and sentencing of Mr. Medina,” said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. “We continue to investigate, arrest and prosecute those who distribute dangerous drugs in our community. These sentencings send the message that if you sell drugs in our city, we will find you and hold you accountable.”
Chief United States District Judge Philip Brimmer presided over the sentencing. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Denver Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Dustin Andre-Vandenberg, Sonia Dave, and Zeke Knox.
Case Number: 23-cr-00049-PAB
Castle Rock Woman Charged for Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that a grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging Lori Ann Kimball, age 52, of Castle Rock, with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and 23 counts of money laundering.
According to the superseding indictment, individuals other than Kimball built fake online relationships with victims to gain their trust and convinced them to send money to Kimball in the form of wire transfers, checks, or cash. Despite being warned by law enforcement about the nature of her conduct, Kimball continued to carry out illegal financial transactions, including transferring over $3.4 million she received from victims between January 2023 and February 2025 to cryptocurrency accounts in her own name, before eventually transferring her cryptocurrency holdings to digital wallets belonging to overseas individuals. Kimball also provided false information to banks and cryptocurrency exchanges to conceal and disguise her activity. During her involvement in this conspiracy, Kimball utilized at least 20 bank accounts and at least 9 cryptocurrency accounts.
The superseding indictment further alleges that on multiple occasions, Kimball knowingly conducted financial transactions involving more than $10,000 in proceeds from mail and wire fraud. It also alleges that, to conceal and disguise the illegally obtained funds, Kimball used a variety of methods, which included moving money via cashier’s checks and cash between bank and cryptocurrency accounts, structuring cash deposits to avoid scrutiny, withdrawing funds from accounts under investigation, opening new cryptocurrency accounts as others were flagged, splitting transactions across platforms to evade limits, and requesting multiple smaller cashier’s checks instead of a single large one.
The charges contained in the superseding indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig Fansler.
Case Number: 1:25-cr-00054-CNS
Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting a Minor and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
A Colorado man pleaded guilty today to sexually exploiting a minor and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Wesley Chambers, 34, of Fort Collins, sexually abused a minor for years and recorded the abuse. Law enforcement found more than 200 sexually explicit videos and photographs of the minor on Chambers’ cell phone, and more than 20,000 photographs and 2,500 videos of the sexual abuse and exploitation of other minors.
Chambers pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually exploiting a child and one count of possessing material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors. As part of his plea agreement, the defendant also admitted to accessing child pornography on the dark web, including “hurtcore” sites. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 22 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 70 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado, Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek of the FBI Denver Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit and the FBI Denver Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alecia L. Riewerts for the District of Colorado are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting a Minor and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
A Colorado man pleaded guilty today to sexually exploiting a minor and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Wesley Chambers, 34, of Fort Collins, sexually abused a minor for years and recorded the abuse. Law enforcement found more than 200 sexually explicit videos and photographs of the minor on Chambers’ cell phone, and more than 20,000 photographs and 2,500 videos of the sexual abuse and exploitation of other minors.
Chambers pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually exploiting a child and one count of possessing material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors. As part of his plea agreement, the defendant also admitted to accessing child pornography on the dark web, including “hurtcore” sites. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 22 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 70 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado, Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek of the FBI Denver Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit and the FBI Denver Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alecia L. Riewerts for the District of Colorado are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Two Denver Gang Members Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and CocaineRead the Press Release
DENVER—The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Carlos Sanford-Valdez, a.k.a. “Charlie Vuitton,” age 30, was sentenced to 240 months and five years of supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. Co-defendant Kataina Jackson-Keeling, a.k.a. “Tana Ten Birdz,” age 37, was sentenced to 120 months for his role in the conspiracy.
According to the defendants’ plea agreements, from May 2022 to April 2023, Mr. Sanford-Valdez and Mr. Jackson-Keeling—Crip gang members who were also part of a criminal network that called themselves the “Bird Gang”—and others sold large amounts of fentanyl and cocaine in the Denver Metro area. The defendants separately traveled to Arizona to obtain fentanyl pills, which they then transported or attempted to transport back to Colorado for distribution. They operated out of multiple locations across the Denver Metro area, where they stored and distributed the narcotics as part of their drug trafficking operation.
According to Sanford-Valdez’s plea agreement, Sanford-Valdez flew to Arizona on July 30, 2022, to obtain fentanyl pills, which he provided to an associate for transport back to Colorado. The associate was stopped by law enforcement en route to Colorado, and authorities seized approximately 60,000 fentanyl pills. The associate was later indicted along with Sanford-Valdez.
On August 19, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant on a vehicle driven by Sanford-Valdez and another associate who was later indicted with Sanford-Valdez. During the search, officers recovered a 9mm handgun, 15 rounds of ammunition, $2,494 in cash, and more than 10,000 fentanyl pills. Further, on October 11, 2022, Sanford-Valdez was stopped in Arizona for erratic driving but fled the scene. Following a brief pursuit, law enforcement searched the vehicle he was driving and recovered three cell phones, $37,670 in cash, a firearm, and marijuana.
According to Jackson-Keeling’s plea agreement, on November 14, 2022, Jackson-Keeling mailed a package from Arizona to Colorado. The package was intercepted and searched by law enforcement. Inside, officers found several children’s toys and ten individually wrapped bundles containing a total of 10,102 fentanyl pills.
Investigators also identified an automotive shop in Denver as a distribution location for the criminal network. On November 17, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the shop and recovered approximately 706 grams of fentanyl pills and 60 grams of fentanyl powder. That same day, law enforcement officers also search a location frequented by Sanford-Valdez and found 50 grams of cocaine.
According to court documents, Sanford-Valdez has several prior felony convictions which involved drugs and firearms. Jackson-Keeling was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison for an aggravated robbery in which he threatened a victim at gun point. Jackson-Keeling had a semi-automatic handgun in his possession when he was arrested in Texas on the indictment in this case.
“This case is a perfect example of how organized criminal networks, like the so-called ‘Bird Gang,’ are fueling the fentanyl crisis in our communities,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “These defendants trafficked tens of thousands of fentanyl pills into the Denver Metro area. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement, we were able to disrupt their operation, prevent deadly substances from reaching our streets, and prosecute the people who were most responsible.”
“This investigation demonstrates the resolve of DEA and our partners, by stopping the Bird Gang and its members from spreading poisonous fentanyl and committing acts of violence in our communities,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. “We’ll continue to investigate, prosecute, and destroy these criminal networks with all we have.”
“The Denver Police Department greatly appreciates our partnership with local and federal law enforcement agencies where together, we work to ensure those trying to distribute dangerous narcotics are held accountable,” said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. “This investigation, arrest, conviction and sentencing demonstrate our collective commitment to stopping the distribution of deadly drugs in our community and should serve as a warning to anyone who is or considering bringing illegal drugs into our city.”
United States District Judge Charlotte Sweeney presided over the sentencing. Agents and task force officers assigned to a Drug Enforcement Administration task force which includes the Denver Police Department and the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Duncan handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 1:23-cr-00092-CNS and 1:23-cr-00092-CNS-2
Jury Finds Defendant Guilty in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy and Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that a jury found Nathan James Meek of Colorado Springs guilty of one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to evidence presented at trial, Meek sold large quantities of narcotics in the Colorado Springs area, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana. He was arrested on January 18, 2024, and investigators recovered a cellphone, a firearm, 10 fentanyl pills, 6.2 grams of methamphetamine, and over $3,000 in cash. Officers obtained a search warrant for Meek’s apartment and recovered 2,202 grams of methamphetamine, 131 grams of fentanyl, 80 grams of cocaine, 698 grams of marijuana, and three firearms. Meek’s cellphone contained records of drug-related communications dating from January 1, 2024, through the time of his arrest.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Colorado Springs Police Department. The prosecution was handled by the Violent Crimes and Immigration Section at the United States Attorney's Office.
Case Number: 24-cr-00082-RMR-1