(CAÑON CITY, Colo.) — The 11th Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced grand jury indictments of 23 suspects as the result of a multi-jurisdictional investigation into illicit marijuana-manufacturing and distribution operations that spanned multiple properties in Fremont County, El Paso County, and Pueblo County.
According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the investigation began after a “violent shootout” at one of the properties in Fremont County, where a 57-year-old woman was hit by gunfire while holding an 18-month-old. Allegedly the shooting was related to a robbery of a marijuana-manufacturing site by members of a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO).
CBI said the woman survived her injuries, and the toddler was not harmed.
A search warrant of properties in Fremont, Pueblo, and El Paso counties led to the seizure of 1,150 illicit marijuana plants, approximately 869 pounds of marijuana product, some packaged for distribution, 13 firearms including some that were stolen, about 3.23 grams of methamphetamine, the recovery of stolen heavy equipment and the recovery of stolen vehicles, trailers and a stolen UTV.
CBI said 32-year-old Onel Vicente Martinez, his wife 41-year-old Martha Vicente Romero, who was an employee of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons at the time the alleged crimes were committed, and 48-year-old Mario Armando Leyva Hernandez, an employee of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, were the alleged ringleaders of a racketeering and DTO(s).
The indictment accuses the three of recruiting members for their DTOs from Florida and other areas to operate illegal marijuana-manufacturing, processing, and distributing operations in Colorado.
The indictments named the following suspects who were allegedly involved in the scheme:
Mario Armando Leyva Hernandez – (28 Charges)
Onel Vicente Martinez – (13 Charges)
Antony Aleman Rosete – age 36 (13 Charges)
Martha Vicente Romero – (11 Charges)
Duniesky Hurtado Sotolongo dob – age 39 (7 Charges)
Ricardo Garcia Licourt – age 49 (6 Charges)
Raciel Torres Giro – age 61 (6 Charges)
Diosnel Hernandez Vicente – age 39 (5 Charges)
Juan Grau Reyes – age 30 (5 Charges)
Luis Enrique Peron Hernandez-dob – age 51 (5 Charges)
Laudis Barrueto – age 50 (5 Charges)
Raciel Ochoa Acosta – age 25 (5 Charges)
Carlos Manuel Torres Bandera – age 58 (5 Charges)
Fernando Padilla Herrera – age 58 (4 Charges)
Ariel Acosta Rizo – age 40 (4 Charges)
Yanaisa Yapur Guevara – age 45 (4 Charges)
Glenarvan Leyva Matos dob – age 46 (4 Charges)
Yunior Vasquez Martinez – age 42 (4 Charges)
Julio Ledezma Duarte – age 29 (4 Charges)
Sascha Diaz Friol – age 45 (4 Charges)
Yunier Portieles Chavez – age 37 (4 Charges)
Amelia Cardoso Carballo dob – age 28 (3 Charges)
Paulo Sergio Pascual Acosta – age 29 (3 Charges)
Nine of the suspects have been arrested and law enforcement is searching for the remaining suspects.
Courtesy: HCSO, photo of Mario Armando Leyva HernandezCourtesy: Collier County Sheriff’s Office, photo of Onel Vicente MartinezCourtesy: Collier County Sheriff’s Office, photo of Martha Vicente RomeroCourtesy: Collier County Sheriff’s Office, photo of Ricardo Garcia LicourtCourtesy: HCSO, photo of Juan Grau ReyesCourtesy: Colorado Bureau of Investigation, photo of Fernando Padilla HerreraCourtesy: FCSO, photo of Ariel Acosta RizoCourtesy: FCSO, photo of Yanaisa Yapur GuevaraCourtesy: CCSO, photo of Yunier Portieles Chavez
CBI said the investigation was a joint effort between federal agencies and law enforcement in Colorado and Florida. “These indictments wouldn’t be possible without the extensive coordination and collaboration with our public safety partners in Colorado and across state lines to address these far-reaching operations,” said CBI Director Chris Schaefer. “While Colorado has legalized marijuana it is not legal for illicit marijuana operators to cultivate marijuana without a license with the intent of exporting it to states where the drug remains illegal and lucrative for criminals.”