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veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,538
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Drug ring busted that catered to rich [CO]
#8581831 - 06/30/08 09:15 PM (15 years, 10 months ago) |
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Drug ring busted that catered to rich June 30, 2008 - Denver Post
An international drug trafficking ring that sold cocaine and marijuana to the residents of "affluent gated communities" in Highlands Ranch and Fort Collins has been decimated after a seven-month investigation, state and federal officials said today.
The ring is alleged to have brought 50 kilograms of cocaine into the Denver area each month, with a street value of more than $4 million, said the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the West Metro Drug Task Force.
The drug traffickers also brought and sold large amounts of marijuana.
During the investigation, which Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey described in a new release as "massive," federal and state agents seized almost six kilograms of cocaine, with a street $500,000, and 25 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of $10,000.
Also seized were $500,000 and six handguns.
The investigation has resulted in a grand-jury indictment against 34 men and women.
The indictment says the head of the organization was Martin Vega-Beleta, along with his girlfriend, Norma Yudith Talabera-Espinoza.
The cocaine was funneled from Mexico to Phoenix and then to Colorado.
According to the indictment, Vega-Beleta regularly traveled between Denver and Phoenix to facilitate the transfer of money, cocaine and marijuana into the Denver area.
The lower-level participants of the drug ring would then sell cocaine and marijuana from homes in Highlands Ranch, areas of unincorporated Jefferson County, Fort Collins, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Denver, Aurora, Thornton and Westminster.
The indictment alleges a three-tiered organization.
At the top were Vega-Beleta and Talabera-Espinoza.
At the next level allegedly were Sergio Flores-Hernandez, Jaime Esparaza-Arreola, Sergio Munoz-Maltes and Juan Aguilar-Martinez. They are alleged to have purchased cocaine in kilograms and then distributed it to the people below them.
Operating at the next level, according to the indictment, were Alejandro Banuelos-Serna and his girlfriend, Mirella DiFranco, as well as Federico Banuelos and Samuel Martinez. They are accused of having purchased one or more kilograms of cocaine at a time and then sold it by ounces or grams to other distributors and sometimes to "end users."
Storey said that the organization included whites, African-Americans, Asians and Latinos.
Thirteen of the participants at various levels of the drug-trafficking ring were believed to be in the U.S. illegally.
The group was indicted on a total of 141 counts. Thirteen members of the organization, those operating at the highest levels of the organization, were charged with racketeering.
Other charges brought against members of the ring, according to the indictment, were possession, distribution and/or sale of a controlled substance; money laundering and possession of a forged instrument.
Storey said that most of the suspects — 30 of 34 — have been arrested.
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Cannabischarlie
Resident badass


Registered: 11/28/05
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Re: Drug ring busted that catered to rich [CO] [Re: veggie]
#8581946 - 06/30/08 09:42 PM (15 years, 10 months ago) |
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what a crock of shit, I live in Highlands Ranch and this has nothing to do with catering to the rich, they name all of Metro Denver, which is enormous. One or two more upscale neighborhoods on that list and the title saying "Drug ring busted that catered to rich" is just crap, its drug ring catering to whoever the hell wants what they are selling.
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we could all use a little more sunshine.
yeah, she's funny and somewhat interesting. not a beauty queen, but not bad lookin. i'd feel quite honored to fuck janine garofalo. -tiny_rabid_birds
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12468
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Re: Drug ring busted that catered to rich [CO] [Re: Cannabischarlie]
#8582405 - 06/30/08 11:33 PM (15 years, 10 months ago) |
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Charlie who is that little cutie in your sig
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MrMatthew
LearningSomethingDifferent



Registered: 05/01/07
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Re: Drug ring busted that catered to rich [CO] [Re: Cannabischarlie]
#8582654 - 07/01/08 12:45 AM (15 years, 10 months ago) |
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Wow you live in ranch? Im sorry Small world though...I live right across 470 from ya
-------------------- Good Music
Edited by MrMatthew (07/01/08 12:46 AM)
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AuroricDistortions
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Re: Drug ring busted that catered to rich [CO] [Re: veggie]
#8585868 - 07/01/08 09:46 PM (15 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Other charges brought against members of the ring, according to the indictment, were possession, distribution and/or sale of a controlled substance; money laundering and possession of a forged instrument.
Will someone please explain that. Do they mean he had a homemade shank? Usually charged with that after going to prison.
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rawtoxic
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I read this article from another source:
http://denver.yourhub.com/Golden/Stories/News/Crime/Story~490112.aspx
Multi-level drug trafficking ring busted e-mail to a friend | print this | link to this Contributed by: YourHub.com on 6/30/2008
(DENVER) - First Judicial District Attorney Scott Storey joined by Jeffrey D. Sweetin, Special Agent in Charge of the Denver Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink today announced that a grand jury has returned an indictment naming 34 men and women believed to be part of a major drug trafficking ring in the Denver metro area.
The massive investigation by the West Metro Drug Task Force (WMDTF) and the DEA began in September, 2007 and ended in April when the presentation to the grand jury began.
Agents working the aptly named "Operation Shoestring", reflecting shrinking government budgets, disabled a major multi-level drug trafficking ring that is alleged to have been bringing 50 kilograms of cocaine into the Denver metro area each month, with a street value of over four million dollars. The drug traffickers also bought and sold large amounts of marijuana.
During the course of the investigation, agents with the DEA and WMDTF seized almost six kilograms of cocaine, with a street value of $500,000 and 25 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of $10,000. They also seized over $500,000 in US currency and six handguns.
"The West Metro Drug Task Force, DEA and our prosecutors did an outstanding job," said District Attorney Scott Storey, "Their dedication and professionalism made it easy for the grand jury to do their job and help us get these offenders off the street and stop this stream of narcotics into our community."
According to the indictment, Martin Vega-Beleta was the top level member of the organization. His girlfriend, Norma Yudith Talabera-Espinoza, served as his lieutenant. Erick Fernando Chaparro-Franco is suspected of being the drug runner, working closely with Vega-Beleta. Investigators believe that Martin Vega-Beleta was the source of cocaine which came from Mexico to the Phoenix area and then to Colorado.
Vega-Belata regularly traveled back and forth between Denver and the Phoenix area as part of this drug trafficking ring. He allegedly transported money and arranged for large amounts of cocaine and marijuana to be delivered to the Denver metro area.
At the next level of the organization were Sergio Flores-Hernandez, Jaime Esparaza-Arreola, Sergio Munoz-Maltes and Juan Aguilar-Martinez. They are alleged to have purchased cocaine in kilograms and then distributed it to the people below them. Operating at the next level down, Alejandro Banuelos-Serna and his girlfriend, Mirella DiFranco,Federico Banuelos, and Samuel Martinez are accused of having purchased one or more kilograms of cocaine at a time and then sold it by ounces or grams to other distributors and sometimes to the end user.
"This investigation resulted in DEA and our partners dismantling a significant international drug trafficking organization, transporting drugs from Mexico to Arizona and then on to Colorado, and ultimately to the affluent gated communities of highlands Ranch and Fort Collins, Colorado", said SAC Sweetin.
The lower level participants in this drug ring are accused of buying and selling cocaine and marijuana from homes in Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Thornton, Arvada, Aurora, Denver, Fort Collins, Highlands Ranch and unincorporated Jefferson County.
The 34 men and women, who were white, black, Asian and Hispanic, were indicted on a total of 141 criminal counts. Thirteen of the participants at various levels of the drug trafficking ring are believed to have been in the US illegally.
Thirteen members of the organization, those operating at the highest levels of the organization, were charged with racketeering, Violation of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, a class two felony, in addition to other charges. Members of the organization were charged according to their participation. The charges include Possession, Distribution and/or Sale of a Controlled Substance, each is a class three felony, Money Laundering, a class three felony, and Possession of a Forged Instrument, a class six felony,
Most of the suspects have been arrested. Investigators from the DEA and WMDTF have arrested 30 of the 34 and warrants have been issued for the arrest of the remaining four.
---- Also here is the Rocky Mountain News Version
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/01/massive-drug-bust-caps-investigation/
he 34 people indicted in an alleged Front Range drug-trafficking ring Monday included four women; whites, blacks, Asians, and Hispanics; at least two who live in million-dollar houses; and 13 suspected illegal residents.
Thirty of the 34 have been arrested, and warrants are out for the other four. Jeffco sheriff's spokeswoman Jacki Kelly said this afternoon that those four remain at large.
Jefferson County District Attorney spokeswoman Pam Russell today identified the four suspects still at large as Eloy Flores-Hernandez, 40; Maria Esparza-Arreloa, 30; Michael Kelly, 44; and Robert Hardy, 34.
She said her office is confident that two of the four can be arrested within a month, but is unsure about the other two.
Jefferson County prosecutors said $4 million of cocaine was distributed each month in homes and other locations in Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Thornton, Arvada, Aurora, Denver, Fort Collins, Highlands Ranch and unincorporated Jefferson County.
The West Metro Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration started the operation in September, and it was ready for the grand jury in April.
Dubbed Operation Shoestring to reflect shrinking budgets for drug enforcement, the investigation effectively disabled the ring, which also had brought large amounts of marijuana to the area, said Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink.
A grand jury returned 141 counts.
Among those indicted was Terrie Spieker, owner of a $1.2 million home in Highlands Ranch. Prosecutors allege that she bought cocaine Feb. 3, Super Bowl Sunday, in the parking lot of the Red Robin restaurant at 63 W. Centennial Blvd.
Peter Bidgood, charged with intent to distribute cocaine, lives in Greeley in a home worth "about $2 million," said Mike Turner, spokesman for the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office.
"This gives you an idea of the tentacles of this organization," said Jeffrey Sweetin, special agent in charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration. "What it also says is that a gated community won't do everything for you. If you leave that gated community, you may be parked next to a cocaine dealer at Red Robin on Super Bowl Sunday."
The alleged 13 highest-level members of the drug ring were charged with racketeering, violation of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, a Class 2 felony, in addition to other charges.
According to the indictment, Martin Vega-Beleta was the highest-ranking member of the organization and the source of cocaine that came from Mexico to the Phoenix area and then to Colorado.
His girlfriend, Norma Yudith Talabera-Espinoza, served as his lieutenant, and Erick Fernando Chaparro-Franco is suspected of being the drug runner.
Vega-Beleta would travel back and forth between Denver and the Phoenix area, transporting money for the delivery of cocaine and marijuana to Denver, authorities said.
At the next level were the high-volume dealers, purchasing cocaine in kilogram quantities and distributing it to the people below them, the indictment said. Those alleged high-level dealers included Sergio Flores-Hernandez, Jaime Esparaza-Arreola, Sergio Munoz-Maltes and Juan Aguilar-Martinez.
Those indicted for allegedly purchasing large quantities, then breaking them down to sell by the ounce, were Alejandro Banuelos-Serna and his girlfriend, Mirella DiFranco, Federico Banuelos and Samuel Martinez.
The lower-level people indicted are accused of dealing at several locations along the Front Range, including the Denver Public Library at 2401 Welton St.; Colorado Mills shopping mall, 14500 W. Colfax Ave.; and El Ballezano boot store at West First Avenue and Federal Boulevard.
The $4 million in cocaine brought to metro Denver each month amounted to about 110 pounds a month.
Agents seized about 13 pounds of cocaine with a street value of $500,000 and 25 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of $10,000.
They also seized $500,000 in cash and six handguns.
According to the indictment: "Members of the enterprise do not always know all of the other members of the enterprise, but all members of the enterprise know that there are other people involved in the various levels of sale/distribution process.
"Knowledge of the various members is intentionally limited in the enterprise to protect the enterprise from law enforcement."
Prosecutors said members of the ring often used cell phones and text messages to communicate, and their conversations were "disguised by the use of code and vague terminology to further frustrate law enforcement."
"In general, the quantities identified in this indictment are quantities that will be used for resale and not just for personal use," the indictment states.
Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey credited the West Metro Drug Task Force, the DEA and his prosecutors for making it "easy for the grand jury to do their job" and stopping this stream of drugs.
----------------- This is big news on the front page of the Denver paper, not that they don't put retarded shit on the front page but this caught me a bit by surprise, it's like the DEA is showing off. One person that had a million dollar house bought cocaine and then someone also rented a million dollar house it sounds like? Wow, I am so surprised. Anyways I spoke with some distant friends they other day that are cocaine users from Denver and they said it was already dry or crap. I am sure someone will gladly take there place if it is truly a 4 million dollar a month business.
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johnm214



Registered: 05/31/07
Posts: 17,582
Loc: Americas
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Quote:
AuroricDistortions said:
Quote:
Other charges brought against members of the ring, according to the indictment, were possession, distribution and/or sale of a controlled substance; money laundering and possession of a forged instrument.
Will someone please explain that. Do they mean he had a homemade shank? Usually charged with that after going to prison.
frobably a financial instrument such as a check or some other note
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