Eight people have been indicted in the Denver metro area on charges related to drug trafficking, weapons possession, and money laundering. The announcement was made by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
The defendants named in the indictment are Dario Perez Quintero, 34, formerly of Denver; Guadalupe Mendoza Martinez, 46, of Aurora; Pedro Mendoza Martinez, 54, of Aurora; Abimael Felix Luque, 32, of Aurora; David Uvaldo Mora Sanchez, 32, formerly of Aurora; Hector Joel Quijada Portillo, 30, of Commerce City; Oscar Noel Ruelas Molina, 44, of Aurora; and Jose Alexis Guzman Felix, 30, of Wheat Ridge.
According to an eighteen-count indictment:
– All eight defendants face one count each for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine.
– Perez Quintero faces six additional counts related to distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl as well as one count involving methamphetamine.
– Guadalupe Mendoza Martinez is charged with four counts each for distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Additional charges include one count involving cocaine distribution and possession, one count for possessing a firearm as an alien unlawfully present in the United States, and one count for promoting unlawful activity using funds believed to be proceeds from illegal drug sales.
– Pedro Mendoza Martinez has an extra charge for distributing and possessing fentanyl.
– Luque and Mora Sanchez each face an additional charge concerning methamphetamine.
– Quijada Portillo is charged with further counts related to cocaine and methamphetamine distribution as well as promoting unlawful activity using proceeds from controlled substances.
– Guzman Felix faces another charge for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
If convicted on the conspiracy charge alone (count one), each defendant could face up to life in prison.
The indictment notes that all charges are allegations. “The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative created by Executive Order 14159. The HSTF brings together multiple federal agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI, DEA, ATF, IRS-CI, USPIS, USMS, DSS, USCIS, ICE/ERO, Customs and Border Patrol. Its goal is to dismantle criminal cartels and organizations operating both within the United States and internationally. Special attention is given to crimes involving children or child trafficking. The task force also works on prosecuting violent criminal aliens.
The prosecution is being managed by the Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section within the United States Attorney’s Office for Colorado.
Case Number: 26-CR-27-DDD
