District of Colorado
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Arapahoe County Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison in Connection with Robbery of Mail CarrierRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney for the District of Colorado announces that Marquis Taylor, age 29, was sentenced to 46 months in prison after pleading guilty to assault with intent to rob a U.S. mail carrier.
According to the plea agreement, in September of 2023, Taylor and two other individuals committed a strong-arm robbery of a postal carrier while she was on duty in her mail truck taking her lunch break. Taylor and the other individuals attempted to obtain a universal mailbox key to access community mailboxes. The men were unable to steal the universal key, but did steal various pieces of mail, packages, and a postal scanner. The postal carrier suffered minor injuries as a result of the robbery. One of the other suspects, Dravell Ross, was sentenced last year to four years in prison for the crime.
“Attacking a postal carrier to steal mail is a federal crime that threatens both public safety and the integrity of our mail system,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “This office will continue to aggressively prosecute those people who target federal employees simply for doing their jobs.”
"Today's sentencing is a message to those who contemplate perpetrating senseless and traumatizing acts of violence against U.S. Postal Service employees," said Inspector in Charge Bryan Musgrove of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. "Robberies of our employees are a top investigative priority for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Rest assured that the dedicated men and women of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will ensure perpetrators of these acts are brought to justice no matter how much time has passed and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
The defendant was sentenced on July 17, 2025, by United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Neff.
Case Number: 24-cr-00250-RMR
Ute Fish and Wildlife Officer Pleads Guilty in 2022 Shooting on Tribal Land in Uinta CanyonRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Waneka Rosebud Cornpeach, age 42, of Fort Duchesne, Utah, pled guilty to felony charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury, both while within Indian Country.
According to the plea agreement, on July 17, 2022, the defendant admits to firing her weapon at two different victims, resulting in serious bodily injury to both victims.
The defendant was remanded, and sentencing will be held on November 17, 2025.
The FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Brian Dunn from the District of Colorado is handling the prosecution of the case in the United States District Court for the District of Utah.
Case Number: 2:23-cr-00434-HCN-DAO-1
Denver Man Charged with 27 Counts in Connection with CARES Act FraudRead the Press Release
DENVER – An indictment was unsealed on Wednesday in Denver charging Steve Randall Howe with twenty counts of bank fraud and seven counts of money laundering in connection with a scheme to defraud the United States Small Business Administration (SBA).
According to the indictment, between April 2020 and January 2022, Howe obtained more than $1.2 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans on behalf of six businesses he owned. To obtain the loans, Howe submitted false information and fabricated documents to lenders to make it appear that those companies were eligible for PPP loans when they were not. Howe then used the loan money for ineligible expenses, like purchases of residential properties, retail purchases, travel expenses, and transfers of money to China. The indictment alleges that Howe then applied for, and received, forgiveness on each loan, never making a single payment on them.
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.
The defendant made his initial appearance on July 2, 2025, in Denver in front of United States Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Taylor Glogiewicz and Craig Fansler.
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: 25-cr-00197-NYW
Colorado Springs Funeral Home Operator Sentenced in Gruesome Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jon M. Hallford, 45, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was sentenced today to 240 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,070,413.74 in restitution for a conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Hallford, who owned Return to Nature Funeral Home in Colorado Springs and Penrose with his wife, mishandled at least 190 bodies over four years and defrauded the Small Business Administration (SBA) through fraudulent COVID-19 loan applications.
According to the plea agreement, from as early as September 2019 through October 2023, Hallford 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.
Instead of ensuring proper disposition of the remains, Hallford allowed bodies to accumulate in various states of decay and decomposition inside the funeral home’s facility. He took steps to hide the nature of his activities by blocking windows and doors, restricting access to the building, and offering false explanations for the foul odor coming from the site.
The plea agreement further states that Hallford routinely filed death certificates with the State of Colorado that falsely listed the method of disposition as cremation or burial. In many cases, Hallford misrepresented the identities of decedents to third-party crematories, resulting in inaccurate cremation records, or the remains were never cremated or buried at all.
In some of the most egregious cases, Hallford provided family members with urns filled with dry concrete mix instead of the cremated remains of their loved ones, and on at least two occasions, arranged for and delivered the wrong body for burial, concealing the error from the next of kin.
The plea agreement further states that from March 2020 to March 2022, Hallford and his wife, Carie Hallford, conspired to defraud the SBA by submitting loan applications containing false information to obtain COVID-19 relief funds. As a result of this fraud, Jon and Carie Hallford 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.
“Jon Hallford’s criminal fraud was a vehicle to exploit grieving families so he could give himself a lavish life with luxury cars and expensive vacations,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “His actions were not just fraudulent, but deeply inhumane. We offer our condolences to the families who continue to suffer because of Mr. Hallford’s crimes and we hope this case brings them some measure of peace.”
“Families in the depths of grief trusted this defendant with the remains of their loved ones. In return, he had no regard whatsoever for the dignity and respect they deserved,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “He schemed and defrauded them and the government in despicable fashion to further his own desires and ambitions. We cannot undo the vast harm he sowed, but we can bring this measure of justice today.”
“The sheer scale and callousness of the crimes committed by Jon Hallford are truly disturbing," said Colorado Bureau of Investigation Interim Director Rebecca Spiess. "We are proud of our collaboration with our federal and local agencies in uncovering the horrific conditions at the funeral home and bringing justice to the nearly 190 families who were so cruelly deceived. This case serves as a stark reminder of our commitment to protecting Coloradans from such predatory behavior."
“Exploiting SBA programs during a time of crisis is disgraceful, and we are committed to ensuring justice is served,” said SBA Office of Inspector General’s Acting Special Agent in Charge, Jonathan Huang. “Today’s sentencing is a testament to the OIG’s unwavering dedication to protecting our small business support programs. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners for their diligence, and I extend my heartfelt sympathies to all those impacted by this reprehensible act.”
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 sentenced Hallford.
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 was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Tim Neff and Craig Fansler.
Case Number: 1:24-cr-00113-NYW
Federal Prison Inmates Sentenced for the Death of Fellow InmateRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jonathan Guillory, 45, and Anthony Bell, 44, both federal inmates, were sentenced for their roles in the death of a fellow inmate at the U.S. Penitentiary-High in Florence, Colorado.
According to the plea agreements, on December 6, 2021, a violent altercation occurred inside a cell involving Guillory and the victim. During the confrontation, Guillory repeatedly stabbed the victim with a homemade weapon, including a fatal wound to the base of the throat. While the assault unfolded, Bell exited the cell and deliberately held the door shut, preventing the victim from escaping or receiving assistance.
Guillory was sentenced to 88 months for voluntary manslaughter and Bell was sentenced to 27 months for involuntary manslaughter.
“This case underscores our unwavering commitment to safety within the federal prison system,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Acts of violence, even behind bars, will be met with serious consequences. These defendants now face significant additional time to reflect on the gravity of their actions and the reach of the law.”
“The FBI does not give felons a free pass to commit crimes because they are already serving federal time,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “Violence behind bars – whether committed against prison staff or fellow inmates – brings consequences, as this case demonstrates.”
United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez sentenced Bell on June 12, 2025, and sentenced Guillory on June 18, 2025.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by the Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Case Number: 1:23-cr-00391-RMR
Colorado Springs Man Sentenced to 141 Months in Federal Prison for Armed Robberies of Brinks EmployeesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jahlique Rahmir Dorsey, 25, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was sentenced to 141 months in federal prison for robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to the plea agreement, on September 26, 2023, Dorsey and a co-defendant robbed an employee of Brinks U.S. who was servicing ATMs at a Wells Fargo bank in Colorado Springs. The victim said two males approached him on foot, each pointing a firearm at him. They took his bag and service weapon before fleeing in an SUV. The bag contained only rubber bands because Dorsey and his co-defendant robbed the victim before he had serviced the ATM.
The plea agreement further states that on October 2, 2023, Dorsey and the same co-defendant robbed another Brinks employee who was servicing an ATM at a Wells Fargo bank in Aurora, Colorado. The victim was in the process of removing money from an ATM and refilling the cash supply. Dorsey and his co-defendant approached the victim on foot and pointed firearms at him. One of the defendants punched the victim in the mouth during a physical altercation and stole his service weapon and the Brinks bag, which contained cash.
“Mr. Dorsey’s brazen, violent conduct put the victims of his robberies and other members of our community in real danger,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Reducing violent crime throughout Colorado is one of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s top priorities.”
“The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force is making a real impact on violent crime by operating as a unified team. Working in close partnership with law enforcement agencies across the Front Range—including in Aurora, Castle Rock, and Colorado Springs—our task force is identifying violent offenders and bringing them to justice,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “If you rob an armored car or bank, expect a fast, coordinated response—we don't let crimes like that go unanswered.”
United States District Judge Nina Y. Wang sentenced the defendant on June 16, 2025. The co-defendant in this case will be sentenced on July 30, 2025.
This case was investigated by the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force. Special Assistant United States Attorney Leah Perczak handled the prosecution.
Case number: 23-cr-484-NYW
Alleged Perpetrator of Terror Attack in Colorado Charged with Hate CrimesRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in Denver charging Mohamed Sabry Soliman with 12 hate crime counts, including nine counts of violating 18 U.S.C. § 249 and three counts of violating 18 U.S.C. § 844(h), for using Molotov cocktails to attack members of the group “Run for Their Lives” and others who had gathered in the park in front of the Boulder County Courthouse on June 1. Soliman had previously been charged by complaint with a federal hate crime offense on June 2.
According to the indictment, on June 1, Soliman entered the park carrying both a backpack weed sprayer that contained a flammable liquid and a black plastic container that held at least 18 glass bottles and jars, all of which contained a flammable liquid and several of which had red rags stuffed through the top to act as wicks (commonly referred to as Molotov cocktails).
At approximately 1:30 p.m., Soliman approached the Run for Their Lives group and threw two Molotov cocktails that he had ignited. When throwing one of the Molotov cocktails, he shouted, “Free Palestine!”
A handwritten document was later recovered from the vehicle driven by Soliman. The document included the following statements: “Zionism is our enemies untill [sic] Jerusalem is liberated and they are expelled from our land,” and further described Israel as a “cancer entity.”
The indictment further alleges that during an interview with law enforcement, Soliman stated, among other things, that he viewed “anyone supporting the exist [sic] of Israel on our land” to be “Zionist.” The defendant stated that he “decide[d] to take [his] revenge from these people” and “search[ed] the internet looking for any Zionist event.” Soliman stated that he learned of the Run for Their Lives group through internet searches for “Zionist” events and that he identified the “Zionist” group when he saw the flags and signs they carried at the courthouse.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Boulder Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
Southern Ute Tribal Member Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact with ChildrenRead the Press Release
DURANGO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced that Kalin Burton Goodtracks, age 36, of Ignacio, Colorado, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a Justice of Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) assessment of $10,000, after pleading guilty to two charges of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child in Indian Country.
According to the plea agreement, on separate incidents in 2019, Goodtracks sexually abused two minors under the age of 12 who were under his supervision. He committed the offenses at his home on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. Both children were related to Goodtracks.
“Mr. Goodtracks deserves to spend a long time in federal prison because he preyed upon children he was supposed to protect,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Pursuing justice for the most vulnerable in Colorado—and especially our children—remains one of our top priorities.”
“This case is a clear reminder that those who exploit children — including those on tribal lands—will find no safe haven from justice, no matter where they are,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “These predators pose a serious threat to the safety of our communities and the FBI will aggressively pursue anyone who targets children.”
United States District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher sentenced the defendant on June 16, 2025.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Southern Ute Investigations Division within the Southern Ute Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey K. Graves and Lisa Franceware handled the prosecution of the case.
Case Number: 1:23-cr-00491-GPG-JMC
Peter McNeilly Appointed as United States Attorney for the District of ColoradoRead the Press Release
DENVER – Peter McNeilly has been appointed as the United States Attorney for the District of Colorado by U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. Mr. McNeilly was sworn in by United States District Judge Daniel D. Domenico on June 16, 2025.
Mr. McNeilly has been an Assistant United States Attorney in Colorado since 2014. During his time as a federal prosecutor, Mr. McNeilly has focused on pursuing members of Mexican drug cartels, combatting the deadly fentanyl epidemic, and reducing violent crime. Mr. McNeilly’s work prosecuting fentanyl cases—and particularly cases involving fatal overdoses—has made him one of the leading experts on fentanyl prosecutions in Colorado and a resource for other federal prosecutors throughout the country. As a supervisor within the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he has overseen the creation and expansion of federal task forces which focus on transnational organized crime and violent crime. Mr. McNeilly has previously served as the Deputy United States Attorney, the Chief of the Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section, the District of Colorado’s Opioid Coordinator, and the Lead Strike Force Attorney for the Denver Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force.
Mr. McNeilly is a lieutenant colonel in the United States Marine Corps. Mr. McNeilly supported commanders and advanced the rule of law as a Marine judge advocate on active duty before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and he has continued that work in the reserves for his entire time with the office. On active duty, he prosecuted complex cases throughout the Marine Corps’ western region, including sexual assaults, child exploitation, financial crimes, and crimes committed in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the reserves, Mr. McNeilly has served as a prosecutor, as a legal advisor on the staff for a three-star commanding general, and he is currently in his second tour as a military judge.
As United States Attorney, Mr. McNeilly will oversee all federal criminal prosecutions as well as all civil litigation undertaken on behalf of the United States Government in Colorado. Mr. McNeilly leads a dedicated team of more than 160 attorneys, professional staff, and government contractors.
Mr. McNeilly’s senior leadership team includes J. Bishop Grewell, who will serve as First Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Appellate Division, and Marcy Cook, who will serve as Deputy United States Attorney.
Pennsylvania Man Charged with Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Adepoju Babatunde Salako, 32, of Pennsylvania, has been charged with six counts of wire fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; and four counts of aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment, between July 2020 and July 2021, Salako allegedly participated in a money laundering conspiracy involving fraudulent applications for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans to the Small Business Administration (SBA) and for unemployment insurance benefits to more than 30 states that obtained more than $5.6 million in government benefits using over 1,000 stolen or fake identities. Salako and his co-conspirators allegedly moved fraud proceeds through several intermediate accounts using various methods, eventually spending the money or transferring it overseas as currency or in the form of goods such as cars or solar panels.
The indictment further alleges that between January 4, 2021, and March 20, 2021, Salako submitted approximately 15 fraudulent applications for unemployment insurance benefits to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), using stolen or false identities. Salako allegedly used names and addresses of residents of Colorado, which he looked up on personal information search websites such as TruthFinder, to submit applications using the Colorado residents’ actual identifiers. The CDLE paid one unemployment insurance claim submitted by Salako, in the amount of $649, and paid an additional $15,431 to bank accounts controlled by Salako based on claims submitted by a co-conspirator.
The indictment further alleges that in addition to submitting fraudulent unemployment insurance claims to Colorado, Salako submitted and aided and abetted in the submission of fraudulent claims in other states using stolen or false identities, including Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and New York, at least 10 fraudulent applications for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans to the SBA, using stolen or false identities, and a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan application in the name of Turn-Turn-Turn Woodturning, using the stolen identity of a Nevada resident.
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.
The defendant made his initial appearance in Colorado on June 13, 2025, before Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and CDLE. The case is being prosecuted by the Economic Crime Section of the United States Attorney’s Office.
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: 25-cr-00162-CNS
Morrison Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for PPP Loan FraudRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Richard Nieto, age 39, of Morrison, Colorado, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $962,438.85 in restitution for engaging in wire fraud and money laundering in connection with obtaining two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the plea agreement, the defendant submitted three fraudulent PPP loan applications to a lender seeking $1,117,903.56 and was successful in obtaining two PPP loans totaling $913,551.88.
In the first successful application for $175,384.83, the defendant inflated the number of employees and average monthly payroll for his business, Denver Pro Painting & Contracting, that had operated before the pandemic and fabricated Forms 941 that did not match the tax returns filed with the IRS. He then submitted a second successful PPP application for $738,167.05 to the same lender for another business, DenPro, that had no payroll or employees and was not operating at all. In this second application, the defendant made up $1,771,601.04 in annual payroll while fabricating fourth quarter tax returns to support the lies on the application.
Before making a single payment on either loan, the defendant submitted fraudulent applications for loan forgiveness. In support of the forgiveness applications, the defendant created a total of 87 fake payroll checks and paystubs that falsely indicated that each check related to a specific pay period and employee and that the defendant’s companies had withheld taxes so that they would qualify for loan forgiveness. One of the defendant’s PPP loans was fully forgiven.
Despite telling the lender that he would use the PPP loan money on business expenses, the defendant transferred PPP loan money through multiple intermediate accounts before using it on personal expenditures and investments. Among other transactions, the defendant used loan money to pay a home mortgage, purchase bitcoin, contribute to an investment account, buy gold and silver coins, and invest in a friend’s startup business.
“This is another case of someone using for personal gain a program meant to help people suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Acting United States Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “I want the public to know that we are aggressively prosecuting people who stole from this relief program.”
“Mr. Nieto went to great lengths to abuse a program meant for hardworking small business owners, seeking only to enrich himself.” said Amanda Prestegard, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI Denver Field Office. “We are proud to partner with the U.S Attorney’s Office to aggressively pursue those who defrauded this and other CARES Act programs and hold criminals like Mr. Nieto accountable.”
United States District Judge William J. Martinez presided over the sentencing.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Craig Fansler and Martha Paluch handled the prosecution of the case.
Case Number: 22-cr-00262-WJM
Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to Laundering COVID-19 Relief FundsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that William Chadwick, 62, of Akron, Colorado, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of Money Laundering and agreed to repay the fraudulent proceeds he laundered from COVID-19 relief programs.
According to the plea agreement, from at least May 2020 through at least August 2022, Chadwick laundered proceeds obtained from COVID-19 relief programs, including Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits, Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program proceeds, and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan proceeds. Chadwick engaged in numerous financial transactions involving wire fraud proceeds and agreed to pay restitution on the estimated $228,284.09 that he laundered.
The plea agreement further states that addresses tied to Chadwick were listed on over 100 UI benefits applications submitted on behalf of other individuals. Between May 2020 and August 2022, Chadwick also received approximately $97,161.00 of UI and ERA benefits issued on behalf of other individuals that were deposited directly in bank accounts he set up and controlled. In April 2021, Chadwick’s personal identifying information was used to submit a PPP application that contained materially false statements, and which was approved and funded in the amount of $20,833.00.
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.
In early 2021, Congress established the ERA program to provide financial assistance to eligible low-income households to cover the costs of rent, rental arrears, utilities, and other housing-related expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cassidy.
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: 25-cr-00127-WJM
Man Charged with Hate Crime in Attack on Boulder GatheringRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Mohammed Sabry Soliman, age 45, of Colorado Springs, has been charged with one count of a hate crime involving actual or perceived race, religion, or national origin.
According to the criminal complaint, on June 1, 2025, at approximately 2pm, Soliman threw two lit Molotov cocktails at individuals participating in a gathering near the Boulder Courthouse of members of “Run for Their Lives,” which organizes weekly walks to call attention to the Israeli hostages in Gaza. When he threw the Molotov cocktails, Soliman yelled “Free Palestine!” The Molotov cocktails ignited in the crowd of people, causing burn injuries to eight individuals.
The complaint also alleges that when Soliman was detained by local law enforcement, at least fourteen unlit Molotov cocktails and a backpack weed sprayer, potentially containing a flammable substance, were found nearby. A car registered to Soliman, parked a block away, contained a red gas container, red material consistent with rags used in the Molotov cocktails, and paperwork with the words, “Israel,” “Palestine,” and “USAID.”
The complaint further alleges that, during an interview with local and federal law enforcement, Soliman stated that he had researched on YouTube how to make Molotov cocktails, purchased the ingredients to do so, and constructed them. He traveled to Boulder in his vehicle with the Molotov cocktails and threw two of them at individuals participating in the gathering. He stated that he wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead. He stated that he would do it (conduct an attack) again. Throughout the interview, Soliman stated that he hated the “Zionist group” and did this because he needed to stop them from taking over “our land,” i.e., Palestine. He stated that he had been planning the attack for a year.
The charges in the complaint are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations Denver Field Office and the Boulder Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, the Civil Rights Division and the National Security Division, both of the Department of Justice, and in coordination with the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office (Twentieth Judicial District).
Case Number: 25-mj-000108-NRN
Fort Collins Man Charged with Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Isaac Meraz, age 21, of Fort Collins, has been charged with one count of bank robbery with forced accompaniment.
According to the criminal complaint, at approximately 2:00 p.m. on May 27, 2025, Meraz entered the Ent Credit Union on Drake Road in Fort Collins and robbed the credit union. Wearing a full rubber mask with attached fake hair, Meraz approached several employees and told them he was there to “audit” the bank. Meraz then used what appeared to be a handgun to force three employees to accompany him to the bank’s vault. Meraz pointed the apparent handgun at a one of the employees and, out of fear and intimidation, that employee provided Meraz with money out of the vault. As he fled the credit union, Meraz dropped a portion of the money and the apparent firearm used in the commission of the robbery. The firearm was later determined to be a realistic-looking BB gun. Meraz was arrested shortly after the robbery outside of the credit union.
On May 30, 2025, Meraz made his initial appearance in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Cyrus Y. Chung.
The charges in the complaint are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations Denver Field Office and Fort Collins Police Services. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Dunn.
Case Number: 25-mj-00105-CYC
Denver Man Sentenced to 110 Months in Federal Prison for Fentanyl, Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Derris Mayberry, 37, of Denver, was sentenced to 110 months in federal prison after being convicted by federal juries in two trials of one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
According to the facts established at the trials, on the evening of March 22, 2024, a woman approached an officer conducting surveillance for an undercover operation and offered the officer “dope.” She then told the officer that she knew someone who could get “blues,” meaning fentanyl pills. The woman ultimately led undercover police officers to an alley near the Colorado State Capitol where Mayberry was waiting. An audio recording captured the undercover officer negotiating the price and amount of fentanyl pills. The officers then observed the woman make a hand-to-hand exchange with Mayberry, immediately after which the woman handed four fentanyl pills to the undercover officer in exchange for $20. Law enforcement contacted Mayberry shortly thereafter at a bus stop only feet away from where the deal had taken place. During a pat down, law enforcement found a loaded .22 caliber revolver in his shorts pocket. Mayberry had previously been convicted of multiple felonies and, therefore, was prohibited from possessing the loaded revolver. During a search incident to his arrest, law enforcement found additional fentanyl pills and the $20 used by the undercover officer to purchase the drugs.
“Illicit fentanyl destroys lives,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “Our office will continue to prioritize putting fentanyl traffickers behind bars.”
“Felons illegally possessing firearms and distributing deadly drugs like fentanyl pose a serious and immediate threat to public safety,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Ashbridge. “We are grateful for our local and federal partners who are unified in our commitment to pursue these violent criminals and hold them accountable for their actions.”
“What began as great, proactive police work ended with an armed dealer of dangerous narcotics being sentenced to prison to a lengthy term,” said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. “The Denver Police Department, in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and U.S. Attorney’s Office, remain committed to stopping the availability of dangerous drugs in Denver.”
United States District Judge Daniel D. Domenico presided over the sentencing. The Denver Police Department VICE unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Theodore O’Brien and Celeste Rangel handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 24-cr-00110-DDD
Denver Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Post Office Burglary, Other CrimesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Zachary Robert Rodrick Jones, 36, of Denver, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison following a guilty plea to Burglary of a United States Post Office; Possession of Stolen Mail; and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
According to the plea agreement, Jones participated in the burglary of the Dacono Post Office on or about April 6, 2022. The door of the Post Office was pried open, and a computer terminal, laptop, scanner, two printers, one postal service jacket, nine keys, two genuine postal service keys, seven employee personnel files, and one binder containing postal applications were stolen.
The plea agreement also states that on May 1, 2022, Jones was contacted by United States Postal Inspection Service inspectors and was found to be in possession of a genuine postal service key, personnel files, post office box applications, and other postal service forms from the Dacono Post Office, in addition to possessing other postal property. He was also in possession of stolen personal and business mail. Additionally, he had a Smith & Wesson handgun that, as a convicted felon, he was prohibited from having.
“The public entrusts the U.S. Postal Service with the safe handling of valuable and important mail,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “Criminals who undermine that trust will be prosecuted.”
“Protecting the integrity of the U.S. mail and ensuring the safety and security of the U.S. Postal Service, its employees, and its customers is core to the mission of the United State Postal Inspection Service,” said Denver Division Acting Inspector in Charge Steve Hodges. “This sentencing serves as a reminder that postal inspectors work tirelessly day in and day out to bring to justice those who seek to do harm to the U.S. Postal Service.”
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the sentencing. The United States Postal Inspection Service handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Albert Buchman handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 25-cr-00108-CNS
Former Greeley Man and Parker Woman Indicted for Defrauding COVID-19 Relief ProgramsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Robert Crust, age 46, formerly of Greeley, Colorado, and Bethany Williams, age 44, of Parker, Colorado, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Colorado. Robert Crust has been charged with five counts of wire fraud and six counts of money laundering. Bethany Williams has been charged with two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.
According to the indictment, Crust and Williams participated in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration and lenders to obtain emergency COVID-19 relief funds. Crust made or caused the submission of loan applications and documents that contained material misrepresentations, all in furtherance of fraudulently obtaining loans on behalf of three Colorado businesses that he owned or managed. Crust also submitted fabricated documents to lenders, including tax forms and a payroll report that Crust manipulated to falsely inflate the number of employees and payroll. Williams also made materially false statements in connection with two loan applications on behalf of one of the businesses. The three businesses collectively received nearly $1 million in loan proceeds.
Despite representing in the loan documents that the funds would be used for legitimate business expenses, the indictment alleges that Crust and Williams used the funds for personal expenses, including airline travel and hotel accommodations while vacationing in Las Vegas. Crust used loan proceeds to purchase a 2012 BMW X5 vehicle, a Jaguar E-PACE vehicle, and a boat.
On May 20, 2025, Williams made her initial appearance in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Cyrus Y. Chung. On May 21, 2025, Crust was arrested in Tampa, Florida, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Natalie Hirt Adams the following day.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation’s Denver Field Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Theodore O’Brien and Craig Fansler.
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-00133-NYW
Defendants Convicted on Charges Related to Hate Crime HoaxRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Derrick Bernard Jr., 36, and Ashley Blackcloud, 40, were convicted by a federal jury for conspiring to threaten or convey false information about a threat when they burned a cross in front of a Black political candidate’s campaign sign defaced with a racial slur and publicized their threatening activity. The cross burning took place on April 23, 2023, just over three weeks before the Colorado Springs mayoral runoff election held on May 16, 2023.
Evidence presented at the five-day trial showed that ten days before the cross burning, Bernard sent a message to the threatened candidate in which he explained he was “mobilizing my squad in defense. Black ops style big brother” and then immediately texted Blackcloud, “I got a plan.” After the burning occurred, Bernard and Blackcloud then worked together to send an email to the candidate, media outlets, and other local, state, and national organizations. Attached to the email was a short video of the cross burning and a still photograph. The email falsely blamed the candidate’s political opponent for the crime. The defendants then worked together to maliciously convey false information about the cross burning via social media platforms.
The conspiracy was uncovered when the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) gathered surveillance footage around the scene of the cross burning. The CSPD’s extensive review of the footage revealed three people prowling through the darkness between 2:30 and 3:30 in the morning to stage the crime. Additional investigative work by the CSPD and exhaustive efforts by the FBI ultimately identified Bernard and Blackcloud, self-declared activists and social media personalities, as two of the culprits.
Sentencing for Derrick Bernard is scheduled for September 11, 2025. Sentencing for Ashley Blackcloud is scheduled for September 17, 2025. Co-defendant Deanna West previously pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 4, 2025.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with substantial assistance from the Colorado Springs Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bryan Fields and Candyce Cline.
CASE NUMBER: 24-cr-00320-RMR
Two People Charged in Robbery and Attempted Robbery of Postal CarriersRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Brisa Sierra-Silva, 25, and Christopher Johnson, 35, have been indicted in connection with the March 4, 2024, attempted robbery of a postal carrier and the subsequent robbery of a different postal carrier on the same day. Sierra-Silva is charged with one count each of robbery and attempted robbery. Johnson is charged with one count of attempted robbery.
Sierra-Silva was arrested and made her initial appearance in federal court on April 25, 2025. Johnson was arrested and made his initial appearance on May 21, 2025.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The investigation is being conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Al Buchman.
CASE NUMBER: 25-cr-00132-CNS
Man Charged in Connection with CARES Act Loan FraudRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Joseph Ronald Trenkle, 54, formerly of Cherry Hills Village, Colorado and currently of Dorado, Puerto Rico, has been charged in a criminal information with one count each of wire fraud and money laundering.
According to the information, between April 30, 2020, and February 25, 2022, Trenkle applied for and received $1,850,000 in COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and $2,999,995 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds from an SBA-approved lender. The information alleges that after first obtaining an EIDL loan in March 2020, Trenkle made two requests to increase the amount of his EIDL and made false representations as part of each of request. The information further alleges that Trenkle submitted two fraudulent PPP loan applications, and also submitted fraudulent applications for PPP loan forgiveness for each PPP loan.
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 certain other expenses consistent with PPP rules. Additionally, the CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDLs to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The defendant made his initial appearance on May 22, 2025, in Denver in front of Magistrate Judge Cyrus Y. Chung.
The charges contained in the information are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig Fansler.
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: 25-cr-00150-RMR
Modern Arms & Optics Co-Owners and Federal Firearms Licensees Sentenced to Federal Prison for Straw Purchases and Other Firearms Law ViolationsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Campbell Slayden, 26, co-owner of Modern Arms & Optics LLC, was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison, following a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. Anthony Gallegos, 26, the other co-owner of Modern Arms & Optics, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison on March 11, 2025, following a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.
According to Slayden’s and Gallegos’s plea agreements, Modern Arms & Optics, a federal firearms licensee and dealer, engaged in business at a residence on Raleigh St. in Denver, and also at numerous gun shows in Colorado. While conducting the business, Slayden and Gallegos engaged in deceptive acts to hide information, mislead, and avert further inquiry into their business from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) by concealing their unlawful firearms manufacturing practices in federally required records. Furthermore, they transferred firearms to people not legally allowed to own firearms through a practice often referred to as “straw purchasing.”
A straw purchase occurs when the transferee or buyer who undergoes the background check and completes the necessary federal forms is not the true transferee or buyer. In this manner, persons prohibited from possessing firearms or wishing to hide their acquisitions of firearms can obtain firearms without undergoing background checks. Slayden and Gallegos would send out electronic links that allowed federal background check forms to be filled out, privately and out of view, by anyone with access to the link. This allowed the straw purchasers, or in some cases the prohibited firearm buyers themselves, to easily supply false and fraudulent misrepresentations regarding the true purchasers of the firearm. When suspicious of an in-person straw purchase, Slayden and Gallegos would fail to conduct reasonable inquiries into the true purchaser and would transfer the firearm to the transferee or buyer whom he knew or had reasonable cause to believe was not the actual buyer.
ATF’s investigation also led to federal convictions against others who committed their own firearms crimes facilitated by Modern Arms & Optics:
Aurianna Aguilar, 24-cr-0085-PAB
Leonel Castillo, 23-cr-00326-NYW
Jacob Cohen, 23-cr-00465-RMR
Glory Goodrich-Devere, 24-cr-00175-RMR
Dario Sanchez, 23-cr-00394-REB
“Gun shop owners and dealers have a crucial role in ensuring that firearms do not fall into the hands of criminals. That role is to follow federal firearms laws.” said Acting United States Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “If they do not, we will prosecute them.”
“This case underscores the devastation of violent crime,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers. “ATF remains committed to targeting violent criminals and using all available resources to protect our communities."
Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over both sentencings. The cases were investigated by ATF. Assistant United States Attorney Albert Buchman handled the prosecutions.
Case Numbers: 24-cr-00034-GPG (Slayden) and 24-cr-00224-GPG (Gallegos)
Gunnison Man Sentenced to 110 Months in Prison for Being Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Scott Oldenburg, 36, of Gunnison, was sentenced to 110 months in federal prison, plus three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
On June 6, 2023, the defendant was identified as a possible burglary suspect in Mount Crested Butte. Officers later searched his vehicle and found two firearms (a .40 caliber with an obliterated serial number and a 9MM), as well as additional firearm parts, including a firearm silencer. The .40 caliber handgun recovered from the defendant's vehicle was fitted with a "Glock switch," a conversion device that caused the handgun to function as a machine gun.
On June 25, 2023, law enforcement officers in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, searched another vehicle in the defendant’s possession—this time, a Hertz rental car that had been reported stolen. They recovered a 12-gauge shotgun and an AR-15; additional firearm parts, including two suppressors; and magazines and ammunition.
Before June 6, 2023, the defendant had been convicted of a felony that was punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. He was therefore barred from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
“Mr. Oldenburg has forfeited his right to own firearms,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell. “Our office will continue to prioritize punishing felons in possession of weapons outfitted with machine gun conversion devices.”
“Coordinated law enforcement efforts leave no place for violent offenders to hide,” said ATF Denver Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers. “We are grateful for our local and federal law enforcement partners in this investigation. Together we ensured he will no longer present the danger of bringing violent crime into our communities.”
“We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their dedication to this investigation and prosecution,” said Mt. Crested Butte Police Chief Nate Stepanek. “This sentence reflects our continued commitment to ensuring public safety and holding offenders accountable for their actions.”
“It is a testament to Colorado law enforcement that our teamwork and collaboration results in the removal of so many dangerous individuals from our streets. I am proud of the members of the Wheat Ridge Police Department for the role they played in this multijurisdictional effort and the results,” said Wheat Ridge Police Chief Christopher Murtha.
United States District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the sentencing. The Denver Field Office of the ATF, the Denver Field Office of the FBI, the Mount Crested Butte Police Department, and the Wheat Ridge Police Department handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Springer and Kurt Bohn handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 24-cr-00022-GPG
Southern Colorado Pharmacy Agrees to Pay $250,000 to Resolve Allegations That It Unlawfully Dispensed Controlled Substances for YearsRead the Press Release
DENVER—The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced that COBigRed, Inc., which operates Hometown Pharmacy & Medical in Trinidad, Colorado, has agreed to resolve allegations that the pharmacy violated the Controlled Substances Act by unlawfully dispensing controlled substances, including high daily doses of opioids and dangerous drug combinations.
The United States alleges that Hometown Pharmacy violated the Controlled Substances Act on numerous occasions, between January 2017 and December 2023, by filling prescriptions for controlled substances, including opioids, that were not valid because they were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose, or were issued outside the usual course of professional practice. The United States alleges that Hometown Pharmacy failed to identify or resolve numerous red flags related to these prescriptions that signaled that they were invalid. These red flags included prescriptions that were for high daily doses of opioids; for dangerous drug combinations; for patients who had insurance but paid in cash for their prescriptions; for patients who had traveled long distances for their prescriptions; and for patients who repeatedly sought early prescription refills. The United States further alleges that Hometown Pharmacy failed to conduct proper due diligence to identify these red flags, including by failing to appropriately check the State of Colorado’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program database, and by failing to properly document its due diligence on each prescription. The United States alleges that this conduct violated the Controlled Substances Act, and that these violations resulted in serious public harms, including the unlawful diversion of drugs.
To resolve the allegations, Hometown Pharmacy agreed to pay $250,000 in civil penalties and entered into a separate agreement with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that imposes strict terms intended to ensure that the pharmacy fully complies with its Controlled Substances Act obligations going forward.
“Pharmacies have an obligation to ensure that every prescription they fill is for a legitimate medical purpose,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “When pharmacies fail to conduct proper due diligence and fill dangerous prescriptions despite the presence of red flags, they place people at unacceptable risk. We will continue to hold pharmacies accountable when they disregard these important obligations and fill illegitimate prescriptions.”
“Citizens of Colorado and beyond trust and rely on pharmacists to exercise their corresponding responsibility to dispense controlled substance prescriptions in accordance with federal regulations and law,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan C. Pullen. “Hometown Pharmacy violated this trust and DEA relentlessly pursued justice and accountability against the pharmacy. DEA will spare no expense to stop pharmacies from abusing their position of trust which could potentially harm patients.”
The claims against Hometown Pharmacy are allegations, and in agreeing to settle this matter, it did not admit to any liability.
This matter was investigated by the DEA’s Rocky Mountain Division and handled by Affirmative Civil Enforcement counsel.
Crew of Fentanyl Dealers Indicted in ColoradoRead 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 Exor Omar Villanueva Raudales, a/k/a “Brian,” age 36, Alex Yubini Canaca Calix, age 32, Luis Fernando Banega Moncada, age 21, Alejandro Torres Ochoa, age 38, and Juan Carlos Sosa Villanueva, age 34, with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl on different occasions between June 2024 and April 2025.
The indictment alleges a series of distinct episodes in which one or more of the defendants distributed fentanyl pills. Four involved Raudales, who worked with Calix, Moncada, and Villaneuva to execute fentanyl deals. Two involved Ochoa, who executed a deal by himself on one day and with Raudales and Villanueva on another. The deals involved substantial amounts of fentanyl, a dangerous Schedule II controlled substance.
Defendants Moncada, Ochoa, and Villanueva – all Honduran nationals without authorization to be in the United States – had initial appearances in federal court on April 29, 2025. All have since been detained pending trial after detention hearings in U.S. District Court. Raudales remains at large. Calix was unlawfully present and has previously been deported.
The investigation is being conducted by the Denver Field Office of the FBI, the Denver Field Office of the DEA, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, and IRS Criminal Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by the Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section of the United States Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice 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).
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Case Number: 25-cr-00131-CNS
Monte Vista Drug Dealer Sentenced to 15 Years of Federal Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
DURANGO – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Blas Villa, 41, of Monte Vista, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
According to the plea agreement and information presented at sentencing, Villa is a well-known drug dealer in the San Luis Valley. Villa possessed close to a pound of pure methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills over three incidents in 2023. In August 2023, Villa and an associate were found at a home in Monte Vista with significant amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine, a handgun, five cell phones, a scale with drug residue, and $13,400 in cash. A search of Villa’s phone revealed photos of Villa posing with firearms, as well as many photos of fentanyl pills associated with a pill counting app. Villa was originally charged in state court and bonded out of custody. While on bond, Villa was arrested again for possessing heroin and methamphetamine in November 2023. Villa bonded out of state custody again. In December 2023, law enforcement pulled over a car driven by Villa and found over 2,500 fentanyl pills and distribution amounts of methamphetamine. Prior to this case, Villa had fifteen prior convictions, including several felonies.
“Mr. Villa is a serial offender,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell. “I thank our law enforcement partners for removing him and his deadly wares from the San Luis Valley.”
“Villa consistently brought harm and poison to Colorado, and with his sentencing the state is that much safer,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. “The men and women of DEA and our law enforcement partners will continue to take down people and organizations causing harm to Coloradans and those around the country.”
“The removal of these dangerous drugs is a testament to the tireless efforts of the Monte Vista Police Department, specifically the dedicated work of our Detective, in collaboration with key federal partners,” said Interim Monte Vista Police Chief Tyler Harford. “This operation represents a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. We remain committed to addressing this issue and protecting our residents.”
United States District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the sentencing in Durango, Colorado. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Monte Vista Police Department handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey K. Graves handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 24-cr-00046-GPG-JMC
Army Soldier Charged with Distribution of Cocaine Following DEA Operation at Illegal NightclubRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez, age 28, was charged by complaint with one count each of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
According to the criminal complaint, Orona-Rodriguez, while serving as an active-duty U.S. Army solider, unlawfully distributed controlled substances. During the week of April 21, 2025, Orona-Rodriguez sold cocaine to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent. Additionally, when investigators obtained a search warrant for Orona-Rodriguez’s phone, they found text messages between at least September 16, 2024, and April 9, 2025, which appear to show him repeatedly purchasing cocaine and selling it to others.
Orona-Rodriguez appears to hold a leadership role in a business called Immortal Security LLC, which provides armed security at “nightclubs” – including an afterhours, unlawful nightclub called Warike – within Colorado Springs, Colorado. On numerous occasions, the Colorado Springs Police Department received 911 calls related to Warike citing a wide variety of alleged crimes, including weapons violations, assault, narcotics, and other violent crime. Warike was the site of a federal search warrant that was executed and led by the DEA on April 27, 2025. Orona-Rodriguez was one of approximately 17 active-duty U.S. Army service members present at Warike during the execution of that search warrant.
The investigation is being conducted by the Denver Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and DEA’s Colorado Springs Resident Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Houlihan.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice 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.
The charges in the complaint are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Case Number: 25-mj-00092-TPO
Colorado Man Charged with Wire Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Julio Melendez, age 31, was indicted by a federal grand jury on ten counts of wire fraud and aiding and abetting; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment, between about March 2020 and about November 2020, Melendez created and executed a payroll fraud scheme against the company where he worked as a project manager. Melendez’s employer was a Maryland-based business that specialized in providing maintenance, custodial, janitorial, and construction services to federal government agencies. During 2020, the company held a contract with a federal agency that obliged the company to provide various services for the agency, including janitorial, grounds keeping, snow removal, and maintenance. While working as a project manager, Melendez was responsible for, among other things, supervising approximately 12 employees, managing employees’ timekeeping, ensuring timesheets were accurate, approving timesheets, ensuring that staff completed their tasks, and ensuring that the company had adequate staff on site at the federal agency.
Among other things, Melendez allegedly conspired with fellow employees under his direct supervision to falsify time sheets and ultimately collect wage payments from their own company for hours and days never worked by the employees. The employees then kicked back a portion of their unearned wages to Melendez as part of the fraud scheme. As a result, the victim company paid approximately $82,000 in wages to employees for services never performed on behalf of the government agency.
The investigation is being conducted by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Neff.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Case Number: 25-cr-00103-RMR
Denver Man Sentenced to 194 months in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Tyrell Braxton, 25, of Denver, was sentenced to 194 months in federal prison after being found guilty by a federal jury of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
According to the facts established at trial, Braxton was charged in connection with a shooting that took place in the early morning hours on August 19, 2023, when a large group of people were gathered on the southwest corner of 28th and Welton Street in Denver. Shortly before 4am, multiple gunshots were heard, and Denver Police officers were dispatched to a shooting. Crime scene evidence collected on scene showed that eight different firearms were fired, resulting in 71 spent shell casings. Video evidence captured Braxton shooting six times into a group of people, killing one man and injuring two women. Braxton ran across Welton Street, but continued to fire his firearm eight more times. Braxton fled the scene and was a fugitive before being captured. Braxton was on federal supervised release at the time for a prior unlawful possession of a firearm and had been released from prison in April 2023.
“Tyrell Braxton’s wanton violence took another’s life,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell. “Our community is safer with him in prison.”
“Fighting violent crime is our top priority, and we are unwavering in our commitment to eradicating violent criminals from our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers. “The ATF Denver Field Division will continue to deploy all resources at our disposal and leverage every law enforcement partnership in pursuit of those who terrorize our communities with violence.”
“The Denver Police Department appreciates our great partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,” said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. “Through the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, DPD and our partners worked to prove the dangers Mr. Braxton possessed to our community and this sentence demonstrates our collective commitment to safety.”
United States District Judge R. Brooke Jackson presided over the sentencing. The Denver Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Celeste Rangel and Special Assistant United States Attorney Leah Perczak handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 24-cr-00029-RBJ
California Man Sentenced to 38 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Juan Demetrio Villalpando Dominguez, 65, of California, was sentenced to 38 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to the plea agreement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted long-term, overlapping investigations of Villalpando Dominguez’s son, Juan Demetrio Villalpando, Jr. a/k/a “Junior,” and others. Two confidential sources made controlled purchases of narcotics in furtherance of the investigations. These controlled purchases were often negotiated with Mexico-based sources of supply and carried out by the suppliers’ associates in the Denver metropolitan area.
Drug proceeds collected from Juan Demetrio Villalpando Jr.’s customers by one confidential informant were aggregated and then sent in packages addressed to an uncharged person. The true recipient of the money, however, was Villalpando Dominguez. Villalpando Dominguez would then arrange for his son, Juan Demetrio Villalpando Jr., to receive the money in Mexico.
“Money laundering is a serious offense that enables drug traffickers to peddle their deadly wares,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “We will hold offenders accountable.”
“Facilitating drug trafficking by funneling illegal proceeds back to Mexico perpetuates the scourge of the drug epidemic in our communities,” said Amanda Prestegard, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge, Denver Field Office. “Removing these money launderers from the streets and putting them in prison is a result of the hard work of CI special agents, who proudly provide financial expertise as we work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring criminals to justice and keep our communities safe.”
“Dismantling cartels requires more than seizing drugs – it includes cutting off the flow of illicit money that fuels their operations. That’s why targeting the money laundering component of these networks is a key priority,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “With our partners at IRS-CI and ICE, the FBI continues to take a strategic, coordinated approach to bring these complex criminal enterprises to justice and safeguard all Americans from the devastating impact of illegal drugs.”
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the sentencing.
The FBI, IRS-CI, and DHS conducted the investigation in this case. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Duncan and Michael Houlihan, as well as by former Assistant United States Attorney Cyrus Y. Chung.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Case No.: 23-cr-00106-CNS
Mexican Nationals Charged with Unlawful Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that defendants Caesar Ramon Martinez Solis, 41, and Humberto Ivan Amador Gavira, 24, both of Mexico, were charged with Unlawful Possession of Ammunition by Alien Admitted Under a Nonimmigrant Visa.
According to the criminal complaint, on March 26, 2025, Detectives with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office (FSCO) conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by defendants in Canon City. Defendant Martinez Solis consented to a search of the vehicle. During the search, the Detectives found what they estimated to be approximately 150 boxes of .308 ammunition, and approximately 30 boxes of 7.62 ammunition. Each box was labeled as containing 1,000 rounds.
The investigation is being handled by the Denver Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Denver Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The prosecution is being handled by the Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice 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).
The charges in the complaint are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Case Number: 25-mj-00074-CYC
Colorado Springs Man Charged with Making Threats Regarding Tesla Owners and the Presidential CabinetRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that defendant Carl Howard Payne, Jr., of Colorado Springs, was charged with Interstate Communication of Threats.
According to the criminal complaint, on or about March 20, 2025, threatening emails were sent from [email protected] to various news media outlets across state lines. The emails detailed a “Declaration of War” against the 47th Presidential Cabinet of the United States and further described how Tesla owners would be murdered on April 17, 2025, and thereafter, until the death of Elon Musk.
Also on March 20, 2025, Payne sent the same email to ProPublica and Thomson Reuters, both in New York, from Signal user “c”. And on or about April 2, 2025, Payne deposited or caused to be deposited similar threatening letters for delivery by the Postal Service to several insurance companies. The return address on the letters indicated they were from “The White House,” but the letters were postmarked in Denver.
A review of Internet Protocol (IP) address information from Proton Mail, along with other information, indicates that Payne is the user of the Proton Mail account and the Signal account from which the threatening emails originated.
The investigation is being handled by the Denver Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jasand Mock.
The charges in the complaint are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Case Number: 25-mj-00081-NRN
Gambian Man Convicted on Torture ChargesRead the Press Release
DENVER — A Colorado jury convicted a Gambian national, Michael Sang Correa, on torture charges for his participation in the torture of numerous victims in The Gambia in 2006, including through beating and flesh burning, because of the victims’ purported involvement in a plot against The Gambia’s then-President, Yahya Jammeh.
“Michael Sang Correa tried to evade responsibility for his crimes in The Gambia by coming to the United States and hiding his past,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “But we found him, we investigated him, and we prosecuted him. The lesson is: if you commit violent crimes—let alone torture or other human rights violations—do not come to the United States. If you do, the Department of Justice, together with its law enforcement partners, will leave no stone unturned to see that your crimes are exposed and justice is served. I thank the jurors for their service and the witnesses for the courage to relive the horror they experienced at Correa’s hands.”
“The torture inflicted by Michael Sang Correa and his co-conspirators is abhorrent,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado. “Today’s verdict shows you can’t get away with coming to Colorado to hide from your past crimes. The jurors are to be commended for their service throughout this trial and the witnesses for traveling so far to serve the interests of justice.”
“Correa’s crimes caught up with him today,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver, who oversees HSI operations in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. “Correa chose the wrong country to try to escape from justice. HSI actively investigates and apprehends human rights violators who run from their criminal pasts and come here. We have a zero-tolerance policy for human rights violators.”
According to evidence presented at trial, Michael Sang Correa, 46, served in an armed unit known as the “Junglers,” which answered to The Gambia’s then-President, Yahya Jammeh. The jury found that, as a Jungler, Correa conspired with others to commit torture. The jury also found that, together with others, he tortured five victims. The evidence at trial showed that Correa and his co-conspirators targeted these victims based on suspicions that they plotted against Jammeh.
The evidence at trial proved that in March 2006, shortly after a failed coup attempt, Correa and his co-conspirators transported the victims to the main prison of The Gambia, known as “Mile 2 Prison.” For the rest of the month of March and well into April 2006, Correa and his co-conspirators beat, stabbed, burned, and electrocuted the victims. A victim testified that he had his thigh burned by hot, molten plastic; the Junglers also placed the victim in a large bag, suspended him in the air, and dropped him to the ground. Another victim testified that he was suffocated when Correa and his co-conspirators placed a plastic bag over his head; one of Correa’s co-conspirators also put the barrel of a pistol in his mouth. In addition to suffocation from a plastic bag over the head, another victim testified he was electrocuted on his body, including his genitals; hanged upside down and beaten in that position; and stabbed in the shoulder. A fourth victim endured electrocution and was hit in the head with a pistol. A fifth victim’s testimony indicated that he had cigarettes extinguished into his skin and experienced electrocution and was also struck in the face with a hammer. These and other horrific acts of torture and abuse emerged in the testimony of the victims at trial and revealed that Correa played an integral role in inflicting this torture on the victims.
Ten years after these crimes, Correa obtained a visa to enter the United States, arriving in this country in December 2016. Correa escaped apprehension until 2019, and upon his arrest by ICE that year he was placed in removal proceedings. He was charged with torture in 2020. This is the first conviction of a non-U.S. citizen on torture charges in a federal district court.
Correa faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the five torture counts and the count of conspiracy to commit torture. He will remain in U.S. custody pending his sentencing at a date to be determined by the Court. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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.
Acting Principal Deputy Chief Christina Giffin and Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa Hindman and Laura Cramer-Babycz for the District of Colorado 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.
Case Number: 20-cr-148-CMA
Gambian Man Convicted on Torture ChargesRead the Press Release
A Colorado jury convicted a Gambian national, Michael Sang Correa, on torture charges for his participation in the torture of numerous victims in The Gambia in 2006, including through beating and flesh burning, because of the victims’ purported involvement in a plot against The Gambia’s then-President, Yahya Jammeh.
“Michael Sang Correa tried to evade responsibility for his crimes in The Gambia by coming to the United States and hiding his past,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “But we found him, we investigated him, and we prosecuted him. The lesson is: if you commit violent crimes—let alone torture or other human rights violations—do not come to the United States. If you do, the Department of Justice, together with its law enforcement partners, will leave no stone unturned to see that your crimes are exposed and justice is served. I thank the jurors for their service and the witnesses for the courage to relive the horror they experienced at Correa’s hands.”
“The torture inflicted by Michael Sang Correa and his co-conspirators is abhorrent,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado. “Today’s verdict shows you can’t get away with coming to Colorado to hide from your past crimes. The jurors are to be commended for their service throughout this trial and the witnesses for traveling so far to serve the interests of justice.”
“Correa’s crimes caught up with him today,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver, who oversees HSI operations in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. “Correa chose the wrong country to try to escape from justice. HSI actively investigates and apprehends human rights violators who run from their criminal pasts and come here. We have a zero-tolerance policy for human rights violators.”
According to evidence presented at trial, Michael Sang Correa, 46, served in an armed unit known as the “Junglers,” which answered to The Gambia’s then-President, Yahya Jammeh. The jury found that, as a Jungler, Correa conspired with others to commit torture. The jury also found that, together with others, he tortured five victims. The evidence at trial showed that Correa and his co-conspirators targeted these victims based on suspicions that they plotted against Jammeh.
The evidence at trial proved that in March 2006, shortly after a failed coup attempt, Correa and his co-conspirators transported the victims to the main prison of The Gambia, known as “Mile 2 Prison.” For the rest of the month of March and well into April 2006, Correa and his co-conspirators beat, stabbed, burned, and electrocuted the victims. A victim testified that he had his thigh burned by hot, molten plastic; the Junglers also placed the victim in a large bag, suspended him in the air, and dropped him to the ground. Another victim testified that he was suffocated when Correa and his co-conspirators placed a plastic bag over his head; one of Correa’s co-conspirators also put the barrel of a pistol in his mouth. In addition to suffocation from a plastic bag over the head, another victim testified he was electrocuted on his body, including his genitals; hanged upside down and beaten in that position; and stabbed in the shoulder. A fourth victim endured electrocution and was hit in the head with a pistol. A fifth victim’s testimony indicated that he had cigarettes extinguished into his skin and experienced electrocution and was also struck in the face with a hammer. These and other horrific acts of torture and abuse emerged in the testimony of the victims at trial and revealed that Correa played an integral role in inflicting this torture on the victims.
Ten years after these crimes, Correa obtained a visa to enter the United States, arriving in this country in December 2016. Correa escaped apprehension until 2019, and upon his arrest by ICE that year he was placed in removal proceedings. He was charged with torture in 2020. This is the first conviction of a non-U.S. citizen on torture charges in a federal district court.
Correa faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the five torture counts and the count of conspiracy to commit torture. He will remain in U.S. custody pending his sentencing at a date to be determined by the Court. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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.
Acting Principal Deputy Chief Christina Giffin and Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa Hindman and Laura Cramer-Babycz for the District of Colorado 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.
Jury Finds Drug Trafficker Guilty in Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that a jury found Leonardo Medina of Denver guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit methamphetamine; one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; two counts of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine.
According to evidence presented at the five-day trial, Medina operated a large-scale drug-trafficking organization in Colorado. Medina supplied bulk methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to subordinate dealers in Denver and Colorado Springs throughout 2021 and 2022. In July 2022, the Defendant coordinated the delivery of more than 40 pounds of methamphetamine from Mexico for his drug-trafficking organization. That load of methamphetamine was seized by law enforcement in Texas at the request of investigators in Colorado.
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 and Sonia Dave.
Case Number: 23-cr-00049-PAB
Government Seeks Death Penalty for Federal Inmate Charged with First Degree MurderRead the Press Release
DENVER — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment this week, charging Ishmael Petty, 56, with first degree murder and murder by a federal prisoner serving a life sentence.
According to court documents, on Sept. 19, 2020, Petty murdered a fellow inmate while the two were housed in the same unit at the U.S. Penitentiary-Florence, Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX) in Florence, Colorado. Petty has been in federal custody since a 1998 conviction for bank robbery. In 2002, Petty was sentenced to life in prison for murdering an inmate at another federal prison. In 2015, Petty was sentenced to 60 years in prison for an assault on two federal officers at ADX.
For the current charges, the maximum penalty is death, and Attorney General Bondi has authorized the United States Attorney for the District of Colorado to pursue capital punishment in this case. Consistent with that authorization, the U.S. Attorney filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Petty.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado made the announcement.
The FBI Denver Field Office investigated the case.
This case is being prosecuted by the Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the Criminal Division’s Capital Case Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Case number: 25-cr-00123-DDD
Government Seeks Death Penalty for Federal Inmate Charged with First Degree MurderRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment this week, charging Ishmael Petty, 56, with first degree murder and murder by a federal prisoner serving a life sentence.
According to court documents, on Sept. 19, 2020, Petty murdered a fellow inmate while the two were housed in the same unit at the U.S. Penitentiary-Florence, Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX) in Florence, Colorado. Petty has been in federal custody since a 1998 conviction for bank robbery. In 2002, Petty was sentenced to life in prison for murdering an inmate at another federal prison. In 2015, Petty was sentenced to 60 years in prison for an assault on two federal officers at ADX.
For the current charges, the maximum penalty is death, and Attorney General Bondi has authorized the United States Attorney for the District of Colorado to pursue capital punishment in this case. Consistent with that authorization, the U.S. Attorney filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Petty.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado made the announcement.
The FBI Denver Field Office investigated the case.
This case is being prosecuted by the Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the Criminal Division’s Capital Case Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Colorado Travel Company Pays $3 Million to Settle Allegations That It Unlawfully Obtained a Loan from the Paycheck Protection ProgramRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced that Group Voyagers, Inc. has paid $3 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by unlawfully applying for and receiving a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program when the company was not an eligible small business.
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was an emergency loan program established by Congress in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). It was intended to support small businesses struggling to pay employees and other business expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Only small businesses were eligible for PPP loans. Whether an applicant qualified as a small business was determined, in part, by assessing the number of employees of the business and of all its affiliates. When applying for PPP loans, businesses were required to certify the truthfulness and accuracy of all information provided in their loan applications, including their number of employees.
Group Voyagers is a tour operator headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Group Voyagers and its foreign affiliates provide travel packages marketed under the Globus family of brands. The settlement resolves allegations that Group Voyagers falsely represented on its PPP loan application that it had fewer than 300 employees. In fact, the company, along with its foreign affiliates, employed more than 300 individuals and thus was not an eligible small business.
The allegations were brought to the federal government’s attention by a whistleblower through a False Claims Act action. The qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act allow a private party to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Verity Investigations LLC v. Group Voyagers, Inc., Civil Action No. 24-cv-01671-KAS (D. Colo.). The whistleblower will receive $375,000 in connection with the settlement.
The United States acknowledges that once the allegations were brought to the attention of Group Voyagers, Inc., the company fully cooperated with the investigation, quickly resolved the allegations, and took steps to improve its compliance program.
“Our office will aggressively enforce eligibility limitations that Congress imposes for participation in federal programs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “When applying to participate in a federal program, companies must ensure that their applications are fully accurate and that they are eligible to participate in the program.”
“Those who violate the False Claim Act by wrongfully pursuing and retaining SBA program funding will be held accountable,” said Tim Larson, SBA Office of Inspector General’s (OIG’s) Western Region Assistant Special Agent in Charge. “This settlement demonstrates that unlawfully obtaining taxpayer dollars will not go unchecked. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners for their support and dedication to pursuing justice in this case.”
The claims against Group Voyagers, Inc. are allegations, and in agreeing to settle this matter, it did not admit to any liability.
This investigation was the result of a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and SBA OIG.
Fort Collins Resident Charged in Connection with Incident at Tesla Service Center in LovelandRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Cooper Jo Frederick, of Fort Collins, Colorado, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of Malicious Destruction and Attempted Destruction of Property by Fire, and one count of Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device. The indictment was brought in connection with a fire at a Tesla Service Center in Loveland, CO, which investigators determined had been caused by an incendiary device. Frederick was arrested Friday, March 27, 2025, in Frisco, Texas.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation is being handled by the Denver Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Loveland Police Department, with assistance from the Dallas Field Office of the ATF, the FBI Dallas Field Office, and the Frisco, Texas Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by the Violent Crimes and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice 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).
Case Number: 25-cr-00105-NYW
Venezuela Man Charged with Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
DENVER – Abraham Gonzalez Romero, 23, a citizen of Venezuela, was charged with forcibly assaulting a federal officer with physical contact and made his initial appearance in federal court today.
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Gonzalez Romero last entered the United States unlawfully at or near Eagle Pass, Texas, on or about September 20, 2023.
On February 28, 2025, ICE Denver Fugitive Operations Unit and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver encountered Gonzalez Romero upon his release from the Denver County jail. The officers present had ICE badges and placards clearly visible as they approached Gonzalez Romero. As one of the officers attempted to contact Gonzalez Romero, he jumped over a nearby handrail and began to run. Officers pursued him, and one officer positioned himself to block his exit. Gonzalez Romero continued running and ran straight at the officer rather than swerve to avoid him. The two collided, the officer was knocked backwards from the impact, and both fell to the ground. The officers subsequently subdued and arrested Gonzalez.
The prosecution is being handled by the Violent Crimes and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice 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).
The charges in the complaint and indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Case Number: 25-cr-00106-REB
Littleton Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for False Tax Return PreparationRead the Press Release
DENVER — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Thuan Bui, 60, of Littleton, Colorado, was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 36 months in federal prison, one year of supervised release, and a $50,000 fine, after pleading guilty to one count of aiding or assisting in preparation of false documents.
According to the plea agreement, from about 2016 to 2021, Bui operated a tax preparation business that operated under several names. Bui falsely told his clients he was a certified public accountant. During that time, and on hundreds of tax returns, Bui understated his clients’ tax liability by overstating or falsely creating expenses on the Schedule C form which is used to report income or loss on a business.
“This defendant willfully and repeatedly abused his clients’ trust when his job was to help them accurately file their annual tax returns,” said Acting United States Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “I encourage all taxpayers to be vigilant during the ongoing tax season to make sure their information is captured and reported accurately.”
“Tax preparers are entrusted to file accurate and truthful tax returns on behalf of their clients to ensure they are meeting their tax obligations,” said Amanda Prestegard, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigations Denver Field Office. “Bui violated that trust and federal tax laws in the process. Identifying these fraudulent preparers remains a top priority for IRS-CI and we will continue holding them accountable.”
United States District Court Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the sentencing.
The case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca Weber handled the prosecution.
Colorado Springs Woman Pleads Guilty to Charge Related to Hate Crime HoaxRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Deanna West, 38, pleaded guilty today to one count of maliciously conveying false information about a threat by means of fire: a burning cross in front of a campaign sign defaced with a racial slur.
According to the plea agreement, West and two other defendants, Derrick Bernard Jr., and Ashley Blackcloud, participated in a conspiracy to spread disinformation about the threat. The 2023 Colorado Springs mayoral run-off election involved Candidate 1, who was Black, and Candidate 2, who was white. After the initial election but before the run-off, one defendant sent a message in which he explained he was “mobilizing my squad in defense. Black ops style big brother.” He also sent messages referencing a desire to prevent “the klan” from gaining political control of the city. Bernard then worked with Blackcloud and West to stage, at an intersection in the City of Colorado Springs in the early hours of April 23, 2023, a cross burning in front of a campaign sign for Candidate 1 defaced with a racial slur. The three then allegedly spread false information about the event through an email from an anonymous source to various news and civic organizations.
United States District Court Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the hearing.
West will be sentenced on June 13, 2025. The other two defendants are awaiting trial.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with substantial assistance from the Colorado Springs Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bryan Fields and Rebecca Weber.
Case Number: 1:24-cr-00320-RMR
Four Men Indicted on Kidnapping ChargeRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Darwin Veliz-Gonzalez, Jose Daniel Pineda-Moreno, Jeffrerson Balza-Delfin, and Yender Enrique Campos-Malave were each indicted by a federal grand jury on one count for unlawfully seizing, confining, kidnapping, abducting and holding for ransom an unidentified victim.
Balza-Delfin and Campos-Malave made their initial appearance in front of Magistrate Judge Cyrus Y. Chung today. Veliz-Gonzalez and Pineda-Moreno are scheduled to appear at a later date.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Denver Field Office and the Denver Police Department are handling the investigation. The prosecution is being handled by the Violent Crimes and Immigration Enforcement section of the United States Attorney’s Office.
Case Number: 25-cr-00077-JLK
Lyons Resident Charged in Connection with Series of Incidents at Loveland Tesla DealershipRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Lucy Grace Nelson, also known as Justin Thomas Nelson, 42, of Lyons, Colorado, was charged by complaint with one count of malicious destruction of property for a series of incidents at the Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado.
According to the complaint, on January 29, Loveland Police received a call reporting a fire near a Cyber Truck located at the Tesla dealership. Investigators discovered an incendiary device, commonly referred to as a “Molotov cocktail” next to the vehicle. Additionally, on February 2, Loveland Police received a report of graffiti on the Tesla dealership sign where black spray paint was used to write the word “NAZI.” On February 7, police received a call for graffiti and possible arson at Tesla. During that investigation police found multiple broken bottles consistent with incendiary devices. On February 11, a security guard at the dealership came into contact with a person painting graffiti, which used an expletive, on the front windows of the building. On February 24, police confronted Nelson at the dealership. Inside Nelson’s car, police found a container of gasoline plus a box of bottles and wick material which were similar to the items police recovered after the prior incidents.
The defendant made an initial appearance in front of Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Denver Field Office, and the Loveland Police Department are handling the investigation. The Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution.
Case Number: 1:25-mj-00043-NRN
Colorado Springs Man Sentenced to 27.5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jose Baeza, 41, of Colorado Springs, was sentenced to 330 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, one count of distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Baeza also pleaded guilty to one count of murder in the second degree in Otero County Court.
According to the plea agreement, Baeza, also known as “Terco” shot a person in La Junta, Colorado, in March 2022, over a drug debt owed to the drug trafficking organization to which he belonged. The person Baeza shot died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
“Violent drug dealers have no place in our communities,” said Acting United States Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “I am grateful to our partners for removing this dangerous criminal from our streets and placing him behind bars for many years to come.”
“I commend the work of DEA’s Colorado Springs Resident Office and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Colorado for bringing justice to Jose Baeza,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. “Those involved in drug trafficking and murder have no place in our society, and DEA will continue to be relentless in its pursuit of individuals and criminal organizations who break the laws of the United States.”
United States District Court Judge Daniel D. Domenico presided over the sentencing.
The Drug Enforcement Administration handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Alyssa Christine Mance and Talia Bucci handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 22-CR-00345
Man Who Escaped Federal Prison Camp in Colorado, Evaded Capture for Five Years, Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Allen Todd May, age 60, was sentenced to ten years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of wire fraud, one count of escape, and one count of aggravated identity theft. May’s sentence is to be served consecutive to the approximately seven years he must serve on a sentence imposed in the Northern District of Texas, which he was serving when he escaped. May was also ordered to serve three years on supervised release after completion of his prison sentence and to pay $9,113,375.49 in restitution, and forfeit the fraud proceeds and assets he obtained during the scheme.
According to the plea agreement, between mid-2016 and December 2018, while serving a 20-year sentence at the Federal Prison Camp in Englewood, Colorado, May devised a scheme to falsely and fraudulently claim that he and entities controlled by him were entitled to oil and gas royalties that had not yet been claimed by the true owners. May was able to participate in this scheme through an unlawfully obtained iPhone he purchased from a fellow inmate at the Federal Prison Camp. Throughout the course of this scheme, May obtained more than $700,000 in royalties to which he was not entitled.
At the Federal Prison Camp, May worked as a facilities clerk where he drove vehicles on prison grounds. On December 21, 2018, May drove off the Federal Prison Camp Compound and eluded capture by federal law enforcement for nearly five years. While on the run, May engaged in the same fraudulent oil and gas royalties scheme and netted $8 million in funds to which he was not entitled and used these funds to support his extravagant lifestyle. He stole the identities of inmates serving long sentences, presented himself as those individuals, and conducted his fraud in their names.
The United States Marshals Service arrested May in August of 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he had been living under an alias.
“The people of Colorado and Florida are safer today because Allen Todd May is back behind bars,” said Acting United States Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “The Federal Government will not rest when it comes to pursuing fraudsters and fugitives.”
“This repeat offender demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law. While in federal prison, he orchestrated a $700,000 fraud scheme, audaciously escaped, and continued to victimize unsuspecting Americans while on the run for five years,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “Thanks to the tireless work of the U.S. Marshals Service, he was apprehended, and his criminal activities were stopped. The defendant's actions leave no doubt that he is a threat to society and deserves to remain incarcerated.”
“On behalf of the U.S. Marshals, I want to recognize and thank the anonymous tipster for the information they provided that directly led to the arrest of this unorthodox fugitive,” said District of Colorado U.S. Marshal Kirk Taylor. “I would also like to thank and recognize the incredible tenacity of the Deputy U.S. Marshals who pursued every lead over the years in the District of Colorado, culminating in the arrest in the Southern District of Florida. Their relentless pursuit of this fugitive and the coordination of the agencies involved is a true testament to the U.S. Marshals Service.”
United States District Court Judge Daniel D. Domenico presided over the sentencing.
The United States Marshals Service and the FBI Denver Field Office handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Martha Paluch and Tonya S. Andrews handled the prosecution.
Hunting Outfitter Pays $500,000 to Resolve Allegations Related to the Cow Creek Fire in Ouray County, ColoradoRead the Press Release
DENVER—The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced today that Jackson Outfitters, LLC, a hunting outfitter based in Placerville, Colorado, has agreed to pay $500,000 to resolve allegations that it is liable for the ignition of a wildland fire, which became known as the Cow Creek Fire and which burned 850 acres on the Uncompahgre National Forest in Ouray County, Colorado, in October 2019.
The United States alleges that the Cow Creek Fire was caused by a wood-burning stove located inside a wall tent in the Green Mountain Camp, which is owned and operated by Cow Creek Outfitters, an affiliate of Jackson Outfitters. At the time of the incident, the Green Mountain Camp was occupied by a party that had booked a self-guided elk hunt through Cow Creek Outfitters. Jackson Outfitters operates its business in the National Forest under a Special Use Permit, which states that Jackson Outfitters has an affirmative duty to protect the land, property, and other interests of the United States—including fire suppression costs—from damage.
The United States alleges that the Cow Creek Fire started at Green Mountain Camp when embers and other ignited material exited a stovepipe attached to the wood-burning stove and landed on the ground, igniting dry vegetation. The Cow Creek fire ultimately burned approximately 850 acres of National Forest System lands. The United States incurred significant suppression costs fighting the fire. The United States alleges that by not ensuring that the wood-burning stove was equipped with a functional, properly-installed spark arrestor, Jackson Outfitters breached its duty to ensure that its activities did not result in an escaped fire.
“Outfitters must ensure that the equipment they use in National Forests is safe and protects public lands for all of us,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “We appreciate that this resolution was cooperative and reimburses the United States for costs incurred in fighting the fire.”
The claims against Jackson Outfitters are allegations, and in agreeing to settle this matter, the company did not admit to any liability.
This matter was investigated by U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations and was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Ross.
Denver Man Convicted on Weapon, Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Derris Mayberry, 37, of Denver, Colorado was convicted by federal juries in two trials on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of distribution of fentanyl.
According to the facts established at the trials, on the evening of March 22, 2024, a woman approached an officer conducting surveillance for an undercover operation and offered the officer “dope.” She then told the officer that she knew someone who could get “blues,” meaning fentanyl pills. The woman ultimately led undercover police officers to an alley near the Colorado State Capitol where Mayberry was waiting. An audio recording captured the undercover officer negotiating the price and amount of fentanyl pills. The officers then observed the woman make a hand-to-hand exchange with Mayberry, immediately after which the woman handed four fentanyl pills to the undercover officer in exchange for $20. Law enforcement contacted Mayberry shortly thereafter at a bus stop only feet away from where the deal had taken place. During a pat down, law enforcement found a loaded .22 caliber revolver in his shorts pocket. Mayberry had previously been convicted of multiple felonies and, therefore, was prohibited from possessing the loaded revolver. During a search incident to his arrest, law enforcement found additional fentanyl pills and the $20 used by the undercover officer to purchase the drugs.
Mayberry will be sentenced at a later date.
United States District Court Judge Daniel D. Domenico presided over the trials. The Denver Police Department VICE unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Theodore O’Brien and Celeste Rangel 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-00110-DDD
Three People Charged in Commercial Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Edward Joseph Chmiel, 49, Henry Lozano, 43, and Sabino Loera, 51, have been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering arising out of a scheme to submit fraudulent invoices to a contractor providing services for a Colorado electrical utility.
Loera and Lozano made their initial appearances in federal court on February 10. Chmiel is expected to have his initial appearance later this month. According to the criminal information, 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.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The investigation is being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the FBI Denver Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sonia Dave and Bryan Fields.
Case Number: 25-cr-00024-RMR
Norwood, Colorado Man Convicted of Threatening Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
DURANGO – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Bryan Cornwell, 41, formerly of Norwood, Colorado, was convicted by a federal jury on two counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce. The jury found Cornwell not guilty of a third count of the same charge.
According to the facts established at trial, from late August through later October 2023, Cornwell knowingly sent over 80 emails containing graphic and threatening messages to a law enforcement official. The messages included threats to kill and seriously injure the official, such as repeated statements that “I AM GOING TO KILL YOU.” At the time that Cornwell sent the threatening messages, he was pending sentencing on a prior case where he admitted to threatening to blow up the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office.
Cornwell will be sentenced on April 2, 2025, in Durango, Colorado.
United States District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the trial. The Federal Bureau of Investigation handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Graves handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 24-cr-00047-GPG-JMC
Venezuelan Man Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of A Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jose Manuel Guerra-Caballero, 37, of Venezuela, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to the complaint, Guerra-Caballero, described by a co-conspirator as a member of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization, conspired with six other individuals to provide armed protection for a drug transaction involving ten pounds of methamphetamine. Guerra-Caballero arranged the protection remotely and confirmed over the phone that his co-conspirators were armed and ready to serve in the operation.
The drug deal was a ruse created by undercover ATF agents after Guerra-Caballero and his associates had offered their services for various illegal and violent activities. The undercover operation came on the heels of multiple purchases of firearms by ATF undercover officers that Guerra-Caballero believed would be trafficked to Mexico.
The defendant was arrested in Indiana and made his initial appearance in front of Judge Colin H. Lindsay in the Western District of Kentucky.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations are handling the investigation. The prosecution is being handled by the Violent Crimes and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Colorado.
Case Number: 25-mj-17