Denver police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has arrested 16 people — all with alleged tied to local gangs — for various gun and drug crimes.
During the investigation, undercover agents and officers purchased 27 illegal guns from the defendants, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Of the 16 arrested, one is a federal fugitive and one is a juvenile. Four of the defendants are being prosecuted in federal court and 11 are being prosecuted in state court.
Earlier this week, four of the defendants, all of Denver, were indicted by a federal jury in Denver.
Gabriel E. Silva, 34, and Vincent Michael Valdez, 25, were charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Carl E. Peterson, 47, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Curtis Alan David, 22, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
Seven of the defendants, including the juvenile, will be will be prosecuted by the state. They are: Rudolfo Dominguez, 20; Mheron Doage, 20; Victor Amaro, 20; Araceli DeLarosa-Quintana, 38; Javier Ramos-Torres, 30; and 41-year-old Hector Toby Sifuentes. All are from Denver.
The juveniles’s name has not been released.
Officers arrested four people on outstanding warrants. They are: Martin DeLarosa, 23; Esteban Castro, 22; Ariel Randolph, 19; and Juan Lozano, 18.
All four are from Denver.
“Thanks to the hard work of all the agencies involved, 16 people who illegally use firearms or sell drugs have been apprehended and are now being prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. “The streets of Denver will be safer as a result of this enforcement action.”
All four of the indicted defendants could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if they are convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition.
If David is convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, he could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
