Denver Drug Bust: DEA Takes Down Mexican-Tied Gang

A federal grand jury in Denver charges 17 people were members of a Mexican-led drug trafficking operation that brought drugs up through California and into Mexico. Ten of the people are in custody while seven are fugitives. The indictment is the result of a year-long investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

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The 45-count indictment exposes the inner workings of a Mexican drug gang that was based at a market in Aurora and distributed drugs - mostly cocaine and methamphetamine - throughout the region and then cash back to Mexico.

"The stupidest thing a drug trafficker can do is bring his dope business to Colorado," said Acting U.S. Attorney for Colorado Bob Troyer. "We have the most sophisticated investigators, prosecutors, and partnerships you will find anywhere, and we don't tolerate the poisoning of our people."

The indictment says that the drugs were brought from Mexico through California and into Aurora where they were brought to one of three stash houses in town. From there, the drugs would end up at the El Rancho Market at 15401 East Mississippi and then be sent out.

The El Rancho also has a money transfer station, which investigators determined was used to send drug money back to Mexico.

Prosecutors are trying to seize two of the Aurora properties that they say were used as stash houses - one at 12091 Easy Arizona Avenue and one at 17994 East Utah Avenue. They are also seeking a $2 million judgment against the defendants.

"This operation was successful due to our positive and established working relationships with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners," said Aurora Chief of Police Ken Metz. "This collaborative effort will help Aurora become even safer. Thank you to all the officers involved."

Prosecutors say that the lead defendant in the case - 58-year-old Jose Tapia-Rubio led the operation and is being charged as a "Drug King Pin" who operated a "Continuing Criminal Enterprise."

According to the Department of Justice, to be charged that way, prosecutors had to demonstrate to the grand jury that Tapia-Rubio had been in a "leadership position while being involved with a five or more individuals responsible for a series of drug crimes, and that the drug trafficking continues resulting in substantial income and resources."

If convicted, Tapia-Rubio faces between 20 years and life in prison as well as a $2 million fine.

The indictment states the operation was in business at least between Feb. 1, 2016 and April 15 of this year.

The 16 other defendants face at least 10 years in prison and millions in fines.

"This criminal organization distributed cocaine and methamphetamine throughout our communities, making themselves rich from the suffering of others," stated Special Agent in Charge Barbra Roach of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Denver Field Division.

The Defendants

• JOSE TAPIA-RUBIO, a.k.a. “Don Chaquetas,” age 58, resident of Aurora, Colorado, from Mexico (naturalized U.S. citizen) ARRESTED TODAY IN AURORA
• JUAN CARLOS MEDINA-SOBERANIS, age 31, resident of Aurora, Colorado, from Califorinia FUGITIVE
• LARA ZAMORA-CRUZ, a.k.a. “Maria Lara-Reyes,” age 63, resident of Northridge, California, from El Salvador (naturalized U.S. citizen) ARRESTED TODAY IN CALIFORNIA
• ERIK PARRA, a.k.a. “Flaco,” age unknown, resident of Metro Denver, Colorado, from California FUGITIVE
• JOSE CHICA-ORELLANA, a.k.a. “Adrian,” age unknown, resident of Aspen, Colorado, from El Salvador IN CUSTODY PRIOR TO TODAY
• SELESTINO HERNANDEZ-MAYO, a.k.a. “Chakichan,” age 45, resident of Aurora, Colorado, from Mexico ARRESTED TODAY IN AURORA
• CLAUDIA LISSETH-LARA, age 41, resident of Granada Hills, California, from El Salvador (naturalized U.S. citizen) ARRESTED TODAY IN CALIFORNIA
• VILMA L. ZAMORA, age 67, resident of Reseda, California, from El Salvador ARRESTED TODAY IN CALIFORNIA
• FREDY PAZ-HERRERA, a.k.a. “Avispero,” age unknown, resident of Breckenridge, California, from Mexico FUGTIVE
• FIRST NAME UNKNOWN, LAST NAME UNKNOWN, a.k.a. “Bancholas,” age unknown, in Mexico FUGITIVE
• RODRIGO MORA-SANCHEZ, a.k.a. “Pelon,” age 49, resident of Aurora, Colorado, from Mexico (naturalized U.S. citizen) ARRESTED TODAY IN AURORA
• OSCAR MORA-CAMPOS, age unknown, resident of Aspen, from Mexico ARRESTED TODAY IN ASPEN
• EDUARDO JIMENEZ-SANCHEZ, age 37, resident of New Castle, Colorado, from Mexico ARRESTED TODAY IN BRECKENRIDGE
• FIRST NAME UNKNOWN, LAST NAME UNKNOWN, a.k.a. “Changuito,” age unknown, in Mexico FUGITIVE
• FIRST NAME UNKNOWN, LAST NAME UNKNOWN, a.k.a. “UM-9584,” age unknown, in Mexico FUGITIVE
• LEOPOLDO RODRIGUEZ-PADILLA, age unknown, resident of California, from Mexico FUGITIVE
• HEBERTO MORA-SANCHEZ, a.k.a. “Chaparro,” age 43, resident of Aurora, Colorado, from Mexico ARRESTED TODAY IN AURORA

In addition to the DEA and the Aurora Police Department, the following agencies have members on the task force that conducted the investigation: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation, the FBI, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Marshal Service, West Metro Drug Task Force, Northern Colorado Drug Task Force, Colorado Attorney General’s Office, Colorado State Patrol and the Denver Police Department.

File Photo: Eric Kayne-stringer/Getty Images News/Getty Images