Three men have been found guilty of running a crack cocaine ring out of an Adams County motel that was overrun with drugs and prostitutes.
Lee Arthur Thompson and William Gladney, both 50, and Junior Ray Montoya, 25, were found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to distribute crack.
The Alpine Rose Motel, 6251 Federal Blvd., was infested with pimps, drug dealers and prostitutes, prosecutors said during a two-week trial in U.S. District Court in Denver.
Some 150 state and federal agents raided the motel and three other sites in April 2005 after a 1 1/2-year investigation. The Alpine Rose has since closed down.
The trio was convicted late Wednesday after the jury deliberated about four hours.
Thompson, whom prosecutors fingered as a drug kingpin, was found guilty of racketeering, operating a continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to distribute, distribution of crack cocaine and other charges, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
Gladney was convicted of racketeering, which included the jury finding that he killed Marlo Earl Johnson at the motel on Oct. 23, 2004. Gladney was also found guilty of conspiracy to distribute crack.
Montoya was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute crack.
Thompson and Montoya are scheduled to be sentenced May 21 by Judge Marcia Krieger. Gladney is scheduled to be sentenced June 4.
Gladney faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. Thompson and Montoya face sentences from 20 years to life.
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
