Is comparing Colorado Springs' and Denver's homeless populations fair or unfair? 02-22-2022. You have permission to edit this article. The undercover officer who first made contact with Rivera-Beltran arranged another drug purchase, and the indictment says $2,200 was exchanged for a pound of meth in the same Target parking lot on June 17. The owner of the Colorado Springs dispensary told the Denver Post he is planning to get a concealed-weapons permit, for protection when he has to move money out of the store. Jonathan Aguilar did not survive after he was struck in the temple. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. There were 234,062 undocumented immigrants apprehended at the Texas-Mexico Border in 2015, a drop from the previous year which saw 315,803 people seized, according to the presentation. The indictment says six rectangular bricks with "CHANEL" stamped on them that tested positive for cocaine were found in the vehicle. DENVER (AP) - The U.S. Department of Justice says two Mexican cartels are active in five Colorado cities. or redistributed. A report by the agency's National Drug Intelligence Center says the Juarez and Sinaloa. Best Mexican Restaurants in Colorado Springs, El Paso County: Find Tripadvisor traveler reviews of Colorado Springs Mexican restaurants and search by price, location, and more. She wants you to know he's more than a number. A sixth shooting victim, who was wounded and is fighting for his life at a local hospital, also belongs to the same criminal organization. Dunque also relayed the information that many Mexican drug cartels are now . On July 8, after a phone call between Zytacua and a woman concerning a drug transaction, the indictment says, agents witnessed Zytacua conduct a hand-to-hand exchange with a woman at a nail salon in Aurora. Federal agents seized a slew of drugs in the case, including about 400 pounds of methamphetamine and 15,000 fentanyl pills a powerful synthetic opioid that were disguised as prescription oxycodone, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Denver. By Adry Torres For Dailymail.com He had previously changed his profile image to the logo of the criminal organization's special forces 35th battalion. Authorities have seized more than $1.5 million from 15 bank accounts and two safety deposit boxes of the restaurants. Vallejo-Gallo, a Mexican national, faces 20 years to life in prison. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider The Defendants from California are Juan Carlos Medina-Soberanis, 31; and Erik Parra. But, according to the most recent report from the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sinaloa cartel and traffickers affiliated with it still control the lion's share of the US market for illegal narcotics. Los Zetas Cartel is the least influential of the 6 Mexican cartels, but this doesn't mean that its members aren't dangerous people. In April, the indictment says, a confidential informant recorded several phone calls with Padilla-Romo negotiating a $1,600 price for a half-pound of methamphetamine. Add Pueblo Colorado to the list. Jackson said he would not speculate as to if or which cartels may decide to infiltrate the legitimate businesses or how. Seven of the defendants are considered fugitives. He then asked Maritza if she found the "water" in the air duct and the "work" hidden in a closet, and spoke about what authorities found and took, including the Corvette, the indictment says. The gangs appear to be targeting stores, vehicles and bystanders in response to disputes or attempts to capture gang members. Inside the vehicle, the indictment says, investigators found 5,636.88 grams of cocaine also packaged as bricks with the word "CHANEL" stamped on them. Treasury sanctions eight Mexican. I am a regular poster to bb and I live in Boulder, We have 50,000 college students and more hippies then woodstock, We have more medical marijuana dispensaries than starbucks and ALOT of people smoke weed in this city, If the cartels are here they stay hid really well, The police are so lax on tokers here you could blow smoke in their face and they would smile, From a business perspective I'm sure Boulder is a giant cash cow for them. as well as other partner offers and accept our, NOW WATCH: This is how Mexican drug cartels make billions selling drugs, an offshoot of the Sinaloa cartel around 2010, violent turf wars in several areas on Mexico's west coast. Ooooohhhh!!!!!! Antonio Ortiz asked Rivera-Beltran over a call if he had received the "chocolates," believed to be heroin, and asked for "two," believed to be two kilos, according to the indictment. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The Sinaloa cartel is the oldest cartel. A short time later, the indictment says Austin Peterson and Anita Bateman arrived in a vehicle used to transport cocaine to Denver. At least one of the five young men killed by the Mexican military had alleged links to Cartel del Noreste, which operates in the northern border city of Nuevo Laredo across from Texas. The Defendants from Mexico are: Jose Tapia-Rubio, 58, (naturalized); Selestino Hernandez-Mayo, 45; Fredy Paz-Herrera, age unknown; Bancholas, age unknown, (thought to be from Mexico); Rodrigo Mora-Sanchez, 49, (naturalized); Oscar Mora-Campos, age unknown; Eduardo Jimenez-Sanchez, 37; Changuito, age unknown, (thought to be from Mexico); Um-9584, age unknown, (thought to be from Mexico); Leopoldo Rodriguez-Padilla, Age Unknown; And Heberto Mora-Sanchez, 43. Rivera-Beltran then called Antonio Ortiz and old him "s*** went to hell," and that they needed to save what they could because there was a lot of "work," believed to be drugs, at the house, according to the indictment. It alleges that El Potosino was a front company used to funnel drug money through Mexican restaurants in Colorado and Wyoming. In a traffic stop of one suspect in January, investigators seized about 1,000 fentanyl pills that were hidden in a vent inside the vehicle, according to the complaint. Prez's brother, Alejandro Prez, was unharmed and told Univision that he saw the moment his sibling was shot at point-blank range. The eight companies are Servicios Administrativos Fordtwoo, S.A. de C.V., Integracion Badeva, S.A. de C.V., JM Providers Office, S.A. de C.V., Promotora Vallarta One, S.A. de C.V., and Recservi, S.A. de C.V, Corporativo Title I, S.A. de C.V., Corporativo TS Business Inc, S.A. de C.V., and TS Business Corporativo, S.A. de C.V. Treasury has previously sanctioned entities related to the cartel and individuals critical to its operations. The six restaurants and El Potosino which means the one from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, an area associated with drug cartels are accused in a drug-money laundering scheme in the sealed federal complaint filed in November. The rest of the funds were smuggled back in secret vehicle compartments. Later that night while Guadalupe Ortiz was at the airport, he spoke about concealing money in notebooks while going through security with Rivera-Beltran, according to the indictment. This is probably not the last time you hear about CJNG as it is more willing to engage in violent confrontations with rival cartels and security forces. While the wiretap investigation was beginning, the indictment says an undercover officer was introduced to Saul Ramon Rivera-Beltran. A sixth. Contact the writer at 719-636-0362 or find her on Twitter: @njKaitlinDurbin. Colorado Springs Mexican restaurants accused in money laundering scheme with ties to 'El Chapo', Homes built by Covington Homes build community, The Girl Scout Cookie Program feeds entrepreneurial and life skills, Colorado Springs home prices fall to lowest point in nearly 1 years, The science of detecting infectious disease in wastewater arrived with the COVID-19 pandemic, Jamal Murray's big second half serves as last laugh vs. old friend and Memphis Grizzlies, Colorado Sunshine: Team Colorado seeks return to 'The Basketball Tournament', LETTERS: Ducking the real issues; ASC Thrift Shop to close, EDITORIAL: Legislators want local heroin injection sites, At Home: Whats hiding in your rugs? Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | KRDO Jobs | FCC Applications |, KRDO FCC Public File | KRDO FCC Applications, Breaking News Can we get the government now to give the Pentagon another trillion trillion $$$$$$$$$$$$????? According to the DEA, Mexican drug cartels continue to expand their presence and forge partnerships with other transnational gangs, U.S. street gangs, prison gangs, and Chinese money laundering organizations. "What is quite possible is that cartels will hire straw owners who have clean records who can apply for a license, then sell large quantities both legally and on the black market," Villasuso said. The DEA said 21 suspects were identified during the investigation into the organization linked to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. On Aug. 25, an undercover agent called Jorge Escamilla and had a conversation about "hides and traps in vehicles" before, the indictment says, the conversation turned to Rivera-Beltran. More information about the case was not available on Wednesday, as some of the court documents remained sealed. Analysts are still trying to work out the long-term effect this shift will have on Mexican cartel finances and violence. Around 6:43 p.m., agents watching the carport saw Tarango-Rodriguez arrive, and Trevizo got on the phone, according to the indictment. 'My son was a good person and he didn't deserve the way they killed him,' she said. In one conversation, the indictment says the two spoke about the price of ounces, pounds and "balls," which investigators identified as "eight balls" of meth. They've inspired songs and telenovelas. Hundreds of Mexican soldiers were sent to the border city of Juarez Friday after a prison face-off between members of two rival cartels caused a riot and shootouts that killed 11 people, most of . The 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office said the following defendants will be prosecuted in Douglas County: RELATED: 2 Colorado nurses illegally took controlled substances at work, U.S. Attorney's Office says. They discussed concern over a camera pointing towards the carport, and the indictment says Rivera-Beltran commented that he would go to the residence of Albert Sanchez Rodriguez or somewhere else. DENVER Details of an eight-month investigation into a Colorado-based drug trafficking organization with links to a Mexican cartel have been released in a grand jury indictment. The defendants are alleged to have brought large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States through California using secret compartments in vehicles. "Any way you plan it out, there's going to be a large amount of cash around," he said. Jalisco New Generation Cartel is the only Mexican cartel that uses New York City as a major hub. We are committed to dismantling and removing the threat posed by these criminal organizations flooding American communities with dangerous narcotics, said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. In late June, the indictment says Zytacua continued speaking to multiple customers about selling cocaine, meth and heroin. The DEA "assesses that the following six Mexican TCOs as having the greatest drug trafficking impact on the United States: Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, BeltranLeyva Organization, Juarez Cartel, Gulf Cartel, and Los Zetas Cartel". WASHINGTON Two sons of notorious drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman have been indicted on drug conspiracy charges, the Justice Department s. Fountain woman to get no jail time for sexually assaulting 13-year-old, mother unhappy with plea deal. COVELO, Calif. Mexican drug cartels are muscling in on America's burgeoning multi-billion-dollar marijuana industry, illegally growing large crops in the hills and valleys of Northern California. Also in June, Tarango-Rodriguez continued to make calls on a third phone number that was being monitored by agents, and the indictment says he told a user he was going to sell 500,000 "small blue ones," which investigators believed to be 30-milligram fentanyl pills, in Kansas. Their families would laugh and say keep them. The Sinaloa Cartel Is Controlling Water in Drought-Stricken Mexico "Water is now a valuable asset for us, and as it becomes more scarce, the more we will fight to make sure we have enough," a. Rivera said Escamilla had left Colorado to deliver the $170,000, which agents knew to be a lie because Escamilla's GPS pings were still in Colorado, the indictment says. "In recent years, the Gulf cartel has weakened due to the arrest of key leaders in Mexico and intra-cartel conflict, which has led to a decline in its drug trafficking influence in the United States.". Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Last week, the US government also took action against a network of Sinaloa Cartel members and associated entities for their involvement in providing chemicals to super labs that produce illicit drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine for the cartel once run by the notorious drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzmn. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Trucks with mounted machine guns and henchman with body armour rolled into the town in one of the bloodiest recent episodes in the drug war blighting Mexico. They each face homicide, bodily injury and disobedience charges. Los Zetas Cartel is also the only Mexican cartel that uses Laredo as a major hub. A Colorado Springs food distribution company and at least six local Mexican restaurants are linked to the Sinoloa Cartel and drug lords Joaqun "El Chapo" Guzmn-Lorea and Ismael "El Mayo". ; and the Albertacos at 4494 Austin Bluffs Parkway. RELATED: DEA seizes more than 110,000 fentanyl-laced pills, issues 19 indictments. Police believe the shooting was tied to a drug deal that took place along West Monica Drive near . CJNG continues to be the Mexican TCO with second-most widespread national influence. "Consistent with previous years, the Sinaloa Cartel maintains the widest national influence, with its most dominant positions along the West Coast, in the Midwest, and in the Northeast. Interactive map reveals when you may see SNOW. Disclosure: 13 US Cities That Are Crowded By Mexican Drug Cartels is originally published at Insider Monkey. You can get killed for just walking around the east side.' We try to spoil when we should understand we haven't spoiled so much, because they know we are working hard for them. There was a problem saving your notification. I want to congratulate the outstanding federal, state, and local law enforcement cooperation that resulted in this highly successful operation. Sinaloa Cartel is one of the oldest and most successful drug cartels in Mexico. SUGGESTED VIDEOS:Investigations from 9Wants to Know. Zambada now is assumed to head the Sinoloa Cartel. Authorities believe a woman accessing the safe-deposit boxes faked pregnancies to make deposits, carrying the cash inside of a false belly.. Employees roll joints behind the sales counter at Medicine Man marijuana dispensary in Denver. The money was seized from alleged members of the Guzman Loera drug cartel . "Though not as expansive as its rival," the Sinaloa cartel, with which it fought a multiyear war for control of Ciudad Juarez, "the Juarez Cartel continues to impact United States drug consumer markets primarily in Denver, Chicago, Oklahoma, and Kansas City," the DEA reports. On. On Aug. 31, the indictment says, the same confidential informant called Rivera-Beltran again. Were concerned with the public consumption right now, Jackson said. Flores was identified as Ortiz's girlfriend and told troopers she had driven from Phoenix to Denver to see her boyfriend. According to the DEA, these six Mexican drug cartels generate tens of billions of dollars every year and employ a multitude of financial transactions and arrangements to launder and smuggle their earnings into Mexico. In August, the indictment says, agents began wiretaps on the phone number that belonged to Rivera-Beltran. Albertacos did close briefly after funds were seized, but it has reopened. Rivera-Beltran also said that he found customers in Arizona who were buying 5,000 to 7,000 fentanyl pills, according to the indictment. In Colorado Springs, those are three Taco Star eateries, at 318 N. Wahsatch Ave., 7434 Ridgewood Drive and 605 N. Circle Drive; two Monicas Taco Shops, at 30 E. Fillmore St. and 5829 Palmer Park Blvd. A seventh restaurant with ties to Colorado Springs also was named in the complaint. Later that day, they spoke about trying to get a car out of impound, and both said they couldn't rely on Martiza anymore, according to the indictment. Were a police department, were always concerns about what may happen.. I keep reading how "nobody" wants that Mexican "shit weed"? New Terms of Use; New Privacy Policy; Your Privacy Choices; Closed Captioning Policy; Help; Contact Us; This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or . The violent and powerful Sinaloa cartel forced the Mexican authorities to surrender and hand over El Chapo's son Ovidio Guzman. Happy Halloween, Borderland Beat. The Sinaloa Cartel's criminal activity in the Ciudad Juarez and El Paso area included the violence that occurred during the war between the Juarez Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel, which led to the death of thousands of people in Ciudad Juarez and throughout the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Durango.