Colorado Springs man sentenced to federal prison for firearm and drug distribution crimes

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A man from Colorado Springs has been sentenced to federal prison for crimes relating to firearm and drug distribution.

U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn announced Thursday that 30-year-old Bjoern Rene Pacot was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison, followed by three years of probation.

According to court records, the Colorado Springs Police Department responded to a call about a suspicious truck and trailer on Jan. 24 of 2019. The vehicles were parked at a Sportsman's Warehouse and blocking traffic.

When officers arrived, they found Pacot and a passenger sleeping in the front seats. CSPD says both the truck and trailer were stolen. When the officers woke up the two suspects, they refused to open the door, resisted arrest and attempted to drive away.

Officers immediately noticed that Pacot had a holstered 9mm handgun on his hip. After a brief struggle, police arrested Pacot.

Police found the following after searching Pacot and the stolen vehicle:

• A 9mm handgun with 15 rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber, $848 in cash, and a black mask, all on the defendant's person;
• Methamphetamine and heroin, with some of the heroin in a lockbox on the driver's side floorboard;
• Methamphetamine in a container and in a small plastic bag in the center console;
• Plastic baggies on the passenger side floor;
• Digital scales;
• A 9mm long rifle with a laser sight and 15 rounds found in the magazine under the rear seat. but within reach of the driver seat.

Police say they found a total of 22 grams of heroin and 26.4 grams of methamphetamine in the stolen vehicle. The 9 mm handgun on Pacot's hip was previously stolen in a burglary, according to court documents.

Cell phone records from mobile devices found in the truck show text conversations where the defendant discussed possessing guns and selling narcotics.

On August 5 of 2019, while Pacot was on bond for the incident earlier in the year, CSPD officers contacted him at an address regarding a stolen motorcycle.

The homeowner allowed officers to enter the residence and speak with Pacot, who then held a 9mm gun to his own head telling police to "back up, back up."

After a standoff near an elementary school, police left the home and obtained arrest and search warrants. When officers arrived back, they arrested Pacot with 1.8 grams of methamphetamine. Police also obtained the gun Pacot had held to his head.

“Drug trafficking is a serious crime.  Doing it with weapons is even more so, which is why the sentence here is both significant and appropriate,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn.  “This is a great result for the people of Colorado Springs.” 

Pacot is being held at El Paso County Jail.