A cocaine ring that dealt the drug in the northern metro area, Weld County and southern Wyoming has been broken with the indictment of 15 people, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said today.
“Toppling this extensive cocaine ring is a major triumph for law enforcement and the people of the state of Colorado,” said Suthers. “This take-down should serve as a reminder that we are working hard to keep illegal drugs off our streets and the people that distribute them behind bars.”
According to the indictment, investigators from the attorney general’s office learned of the alleged ring, which was based out of Brighton and Fort Lupton homes, during the course of a multistate investigation into cocaine distribution in Colorado and Wyoming.
Among those indicted were Celestino Marquez, 23; Michael Celia-Leahey, 22; Jorge Munoz-Hernandez, 32; Fernando Collado-Garcia, 26; George Alberto Lopez, 27; Hilaro “Junior” Rodela, 29; Fernando “Mr. Tylenol” Salas, 21.
According to the indictment, Munoz-Hernandez allegedly confessed to investigators that he set up large kilogram cocaine deals with Humberto Collado and Fernando Collado-Garcia, with either him or his associates picking up cocaine in Denver and taking it back to Weld County for redistribution by his primary runner, Marquez.
Munoz-Hernandez said he also was involved in handling about one kilogram of cocaine on a daily basis, according to the grand jury. The grand jury also said Munoz-Hernandez admitted making a profit of a couple of thousand dollars for each kilogram he handled.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
