Pueblo woman faces 20+ years for drug trafficking

A U.S. District Court jury in Denver found a Pueblo woman guilty of conspiracy, drug trafficking and firearm charges.

Leilani Marie Ontiveras-Martinez, 34, was on trial for four days, with the jury deliberating approximately two hours before reaching their verdict.

Prosecutors say Ontiveras-Martinez is a Pueblo gang member and drug dealer.

She was busted with 50 grams of heroin when she was pulled over in June of 2014. In her house, officers found in her dresser drawer multiple baggies containing about 155 grams of heroin, 133 grams of methamphetamine and a bundle of cash.

Also within arms’ reach of the drugs in her bedroom, hidden in between the mattress and boxsprings of her bed was a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with three rounds, as well as a plastic baggie with ammunition.

In total, Ontiveras-Martinez had well over $30,000 worth of drugs in her purse and in her house.

“This case demonstrates the shared commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the ATF, working closely with the Pueblo Police Department and other southern Colorado law enforcement agencies to protect the people of the greater Pueblo area,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. “This defendant, a gang member and drug dealer in Pueblo, was rightly convicted of drug trafficking and firearm violations following a jury trial, and faces substantial federal criminal prison time.”

She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 6. She faces more than 20 years in prison.