DENVER – This morning nearly 200 agents and officers arrested 23 individuals based on four federal grand jury indictments, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and the Metro Gang Task Force (MGTF) announced. The arrests began early this morning and took place without incident. There are 9 individuals who have not yet been arrested, and are now considered fugitives. Further, four were already in custody prior to today’s enforcement action, and three defendants will receive a summons. In addition to today’s arrests, agents and officers recovered liquid LSD, heroin, methamphetamine, 7 guns, and $3,500 in cash.
Four indictments were obtained charging a total of 39 individuals with drug related crimes. The indictments targeted two large but unrelated drug trafficking enterprises as part of an operation known as Black Rhino. The first indictment targeted a group that was operated by brothers Alan and Albert Ramon. The other three indictments targeted a lose-net group of drug traffickers, including Martin Toledo and Marco Calderon. During this multi-year investigation, which started when the MGTF initiated an investigation into the Northside Mafia (NSM), a combined total of 48 pounds of methamphetamine, 3.5 kilograms of cocaine, and 1 pound of heroin. Further, $60,0000 in cash, and 17 guns were seized.
The first indictment charges Alan and Albert Ramon, and those who helped them sell a variety of illegal narcotics. With the help of other family members, the Ramons used their stores, Nick Mart North and Nick Mart 2 South, to sell heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and crack. During the investigation, in December of 2014, agents in California seized over 42 pounds of methamphetamine that was meant to be delivered to the Ramons. The drugs trafficked by the Ramons and others came primarily from Mexico through California via automobile. In addition to the drug distribution charges, some defendants also face firearm related charges. Defendants in this case, in part, come from the Gallant Knights Insane (GKI), Sureno and 211 Crew gangs.
The other three indictments focus on separate unrelated drug trafficking enterprises, with many of the defendants being members of street gangs, including Northside Mafia, Southside Crew, 16th Street Bloods, and a GKI associate. These enterprises received their drugs also from Mexico, but through New Mexico. They were also brought to Colorado by car.
Those named in the Ramon indictment are:
JUAN CARLOS AMAYA, aka GORDO and CHOLO (arrested)
LUZ JEANETTE BAEZA (arrested)
CHRISTIAN BALDERAS CARDONA (arrested in California)
FNU LNU aka CHAPARRO (fugitive)
IVAN DOMINGUEZ-QUEZADA, aka PRIMO and MASCOTA (arrested)
STEVEN FERGUSON, aka BRUISER (arrested)
WALTER SALINAS FRIAS, aka FLACO (fugitive)
ADELMO GALLEGOS, aka DANGER (arrested)
MARLO GONZALEZ, aka EVIL (arrested)
LUIS GRANADOS-ORDONEZ, aka SHORTY (fugitive)
JASON HOLGUIN (arrested)
DANIEL LOPEZ, aka DROOPY(previously in custody)
JORGE LOYA-RAMIREZ, aka PRIMO (arrested)
STEPHANIE MEDINA (arrested)
ADAM NAKAMURA (arrested)
JAMES PIERCE, aka LEVI (arrested)
ALAN RAMON (previously in custody)
ALAN RAMON, JR. (arrested)
ALBERT RAMON (arrested)
RANDY RAMON (fugitive)
JENNIFER REH (fugitive)
DANIEL RIOS (arrested)
ISIAH ROGERS, aka BIGGIE (fugitive)
ZENA ROMERO (fugitive)
FNU LNU aka SINALOA (arrested)
STEPHANIE TRUJILLO, aka SHORTY (previously in custody)
ANTONIO VELAZQUEZ-HERNANDEZ, aka TONY (arrested)
CARRIE VILLARREAL (previously in custody)
Those named in the other three indictments, including Toledo are:
ABEL AGUILERA-VALDEZ (arrested)
LAWRENCE CORTEZ (summons issued)
GABRIEL GARCIA-ORTEGA (fugitive)
WALTER GUILLEN-BALTIERREZ (arrested)
RAYMUNDO JIMENEZ-AYALA (arrested)
ALAZON LEROUX (fugitive)
SONNY MAYER (arrested)
MARTIN TOLEDO (summons issued)
ROXXANNE VIGIL (summons issued)
DOMANICK ESCALERA (arrested)
MARCO CALDERON (arrested)
“The indictment of 39 individuals on heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine drug trafficking charges, and some on firearm charges, is a powerful step against drug trafficking in Metro Denver – especially on the Westside,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. “Nearly 200 brave men and women from law enforcement at every level worked this morning to safely arrest the defendants safely. Thanks to their excellent work today’s operation was a success without incident.”
“Today’s arrests are indicative of the success that can be attained when agencies combine resources to investigate street gangs,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ravenelle. “It takes joint investigations such as this one, which combined local, state and federal resources, to investigate criminal organizations of this nature. The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners and prosecutors to investigate and prosecute organized criminal enterprises.”
This case was investigated by the Metro Gang Task Force, which includes the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the Aurora Police Department, the Colorado Air National Guard, the Colorado State Patrol, the Commerce City Police Department, the Denver District Attorney’s Office, the Denver Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Lakewood Police Department, the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Agencies helping with making arrests this morning include: Brush Police Department, Greeley Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Adams County Parole, Fort Collins Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
The defendants are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasandra Carleton.
If convicted, defendants face a variety of penalties for drug trafficking, anywhere from not more than 20 years in federal prison, to not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison, depending on the charge.
The charges contained in the indictments are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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