7 indicted on 13 counts of illegal pot production, distribution in Pueblo West

Seven men who operated out of Pueblo West have been indicted in Denver U.S. District Court on several counts of illegal marijuana production and distribution.

Dennis Rodriguez, Richard Samples, Derek Brechbill, Nathaniel Clawson, Gary Bruce, Daniel Bingham and Angel Rodriguez were all indicted on one or more of the seven counts of knowingly and intentionally manufacturing and possessing with the intent to distribute marijuana plants. They were also indicted on an additional six counts of working together to commit the crime.

The indictment didn’t state when the investigation began but it said it ended on March 30 with the execution of several search warrants. According to the Denver Post, officials raided five homes in Pueblo west including one on Tequila Drive, three on South Siesta Drive and one on Camino Santiago Drive.

Law enforcement seized 1,879 marijuana plants, butane has oil lab equipment, 16 pounds of processed marijuana and nine handguns and shotguns, the Denver Post reported.

All of these men could face $5 million in fines and up to 40 years in prison.