21 Charged In Connection With Metro Denver Drug Distribution Ring

Denver CO

01 December, 2021

6:26 PM

Description

DOUGLAS COUNTY — Twenty-one people were charged in connection with a drug distribution ring that operated in Arapahoe, Douglas, Denver and Jefferson counties, the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday. The DEA launched an investigation in April, and discovered that the group distributed large quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl, the DA's office said. Saul Ramon Rivera-Beltran, 30, of Thornton, coordinated the drug shipments and deals from Mexico, the DA said. The fentanyl is believed to have been manufactured in Mexico, smuggled into the United Sates and eventually brought to Colorado. Rivera-Beltran is being held on $1 million bond. "These indictments are an example of how my Organized Crime Unit is able to prosecute those who traffic illegal drugs in our communities and neighborhoods," said John Kellner, 18th Judicial District DA. "These are people who peddle deadly substances. And where we find the illegal drug trade, we usually find illegal weapons. We will continue to work with local, state and federal partners to prosecute these criminal organizations." Don't miss the latest news updates in Denver, Arvada, Lakewood and Littleton. Sign up for free Patch news alerts and newsletters for what you need to know daily. These are the defendants, set to be prosecuted in Douglas County District Court: Saul Ramon Rivera-BeltranSamuel Padilla-RomoJesus Tarango-RodriquezMisael Acosta-garciaMartin Ivan TrevizoAustin PetersonChristian Beltran-BeltranGustavo Labrador ValderramaLuis Jacob ZytacuaAmanda Fair Wynn BidgoodJuan Francis Sarabia-MancinasAnita Kay BatemanMiguel DiarteBrayan Osiel Gonzales-MancinasJorge EscamillaAntonio Lorenzo EscamillaErnestina Angela MontoyaCesar A OrtizAlberto Sanchez RodrigquezAdrian SantanaNancy Vargas Charges range from racketeering and conspiracy under the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act to drug distribution and money laundering. The top counts are Class 2 felonies. "This investigation is not about the amount of drugs seized or number of people arrested," said David Olesky, DEA Denver acting special agent in charge. "This investigation demonstrates and corroborates the alarming trend in counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl flooding our streets, as well as the continuing nexus between drug trafficking and violent crime impacting our communities."