Two of the principals of a trafficking ring that distributed drugs brought into Colorado from Mexico have each received 22-year prison terms.
The men, Jose Martinez-Soto, 32, and Luis Arrendondo-Soto, 25, were sentenced Monday afternoon in Jefferson County district court.
A third member of the drug ring, Jesus Espinoza-Verdugo, 23, was sentenced to 11 years in prison on July 27.
All three were in the country illegally, according to the Jefferson County district attorney’s office.
The men were arrested after an investigation by the West Metro Drug Task Force determined that they were operating a drug ring out of a house in Denver. During the investigation, the task force seized 1,500 grams of pure, uncut heroin having a street value of $48,000. The heroin seized, investigators believe, represented just one month’s supply of the heroin flowing into Denver from Mexico, via Phoenix.
Also seized during the investigation were 180 grams of cocaine; $6,000 in U.S. currency and two handguns.
In July, a Jefferson County jury found Martinez-Soto guilty of two counts of distribution of a controlled substance, four counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm.
Arrendondo-Soto pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute on July 6.
Espinoza-Verdugo pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute on June 15.
District Judge Frances Munsinger, who imposed the sentences, ordered that the men be deported to Mexico after serving their prison terms.
Jefferson County district attorney Scott Storey praised the West Metro Task Force for its work.
“We continue to see a large amount of illegal drugs coming across the borders into the Untied States,” said Storey. “We must remain ever vigilant in our war against drugs to keep our communities safe.”
