Major Heroin Seizure, 24 Arrested

24 people were arrested after a major heroin seizure in Pueblo, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The DEA, Pueblo Police Chief Luis Velez and Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut, announced Wednesday the successful completion of a major heroin investigation with the arrest of 24 people. Those arrested are facing various drug charges, investigators say.

Another five suspects are fugitives, the DEA says.

The agencies say this nine month investigation focused on a heroin trafficking organization headed by Juan Ramon Rocha Rodriguez. They say Rocha Rodriguez was responsible for the transport of large quantities of heroin from Southern California into Colorado for distribution and sale in Pueblo.

The DEA, Chief Velez and Pueblo DA Thiebaut say the investigation culminated Friday, August 5, when investigators seized 10.3 pounds of black tar heroin hidden in a vehicle. Investigators also say they seized $43,131 in cash, 2 handguns and 12 vehicles.

Investigators say the following people were arrested:

Juan Ramon ROCHA-RODRIGUEZ, 40 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Rodney Lee HANKS, 54 yoa, of Mooreport, California Esmeralda RODRIGUEZ, 36 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Josefina GARCIA-RODRIGUEZ, 23 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Juan RODRIGUEZ-DUARTE, 24 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Alonso BARAJAS-DUENAS, 45 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Jesus MARES-LIBRARO, 40 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Matthew James MCDANIEL, 28 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Sharleen Robin TRUJILLO, 38 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Jessica Aleece MILLER, 32 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Edward LOOMIS, 36 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Matthew Marshall DAY, 32 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Eric Alaniz ROMERO, 27 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Justina Virginia MONTOYA, 25 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado David Wayne WEBER, 20 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Donald Henry BECKEMEYER, 31 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Jared Thomas PETERSON, 30 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Justin Robert BIGNER, 32 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Jessica Nicole BREAUX, 33 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Aurea Mendoza, 21 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado John MARIANO, 26 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Jose Angel CONTRERAS-SUAREZ, 21 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Two Juveniles

Investigators say the fugitives are:

Felipe HERNANDEZ-SANCHEZ, 33 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Raul PEREZ-GARCIA, 53 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Miguel OCHEA-GONZALES, 27 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Jesse LLAMAS, 11-10-1983, 27 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado Jose Eduardo INDA-ARTEGA, 24 yoa, of Pueblo, Colorado

Information below came from a news release from the DEA: Acting Special Agent in Charge Merrill said, “What is disturbing to me about this case is the fact that the bulk of the seized heroin was to be sold in the Pueblo area – not destined for some major city. Black tar heroin is an extremely dangerous substance. We ask the help of the public in locating those defendants who are considered fugitives by calling our office in Colorado Springs or the Pueblo Police Department with any information as to their whereabouts.”

“Chief Velez reiterated that these drug trafficking organizations will always face enhanced scrutiny, arrests, and prosecution if caught in the City of Pueblo.” Chief Velez also said, “Our Pueblo Police Officers, and our partners in the DEA, have worked tirelessly to bring these individuals to justice. They won’t stop until all of these suspects are in custody.”

“The time and resources of the District Attorney’s Office must focus on taking dangerous drugs off our streets and out of our community–it is a high priority when compared to the competing demands of other cases,” District Attorney Thiebaut said. And he went on to say, “to get that job done it takes cooperative efforts among the DEA, the Pueblo Police Department, other local and federal law enforcement agencies, and the District Attorney’s Office -now our office will move into the prosecution phase.”