21 Charged In Connection With Metro Denver Drug Distribution Ring

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.”

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These are the defendants, set to be prosecuted in Douglas County District Court:

Saul Ramon Rivera-Beltran
Samuel Padilla-Romo
Jesus Tarango-Rodriquez
Misael Acosta-garcia
Martin Ivan Trevizo
Austin Peterson
Christian Beltran-Beltran
Gustavo Labrador Valderrama
Luis Jacob Zytacua
Amanda Fair Wynn Bidgood
Juan Francis Sarabia-Mancinas
Anita Kay Bateman
Miguel Diarte
Brayan Osiel Gonzales-Mancinas
Jorge Escamilla
Antonio Lorenzo Escamilla
Ernestina Angela Montoya
Cesar A Ortiz
Alberto Sanchez Rodrigquez
Adrian Santana
Nancy 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.”