Former Denver County deputy sentenced to more than four years for aiding in drug trafficking

DENVER, Colo. (KRDO) - A former Denver County deputy sheriff has been sentenced to 51 months in prison for aiding in drug trafficking, the U.S. District Attorney for the State of Colorado recently announced.

According to the DA's Office, 49-year-old Sylvia Montoya, aka Sylvia Dominguez, was sentenced after previously pleading guilty to maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing illegal narcotics.

According to a plea agreement, Denver Police detectives were investigating Montoya after a co-defendant, in this case, was pulled in March of 2019 while driving a vehicle that belonged to Montoya. A search of the car turned up a stolen handgun, a digital scale with cocaine residue on it, 1.64 grams of cocaine, and eight grams of meth.

Detectives had also observed Montoya together with this individual on multiple occasions.

Later in March of 2019, officers observed Montoya drive away from a Lakewood apartment with the co-defendant in the passenger seat. Officers stopped the vehicle and arrested the passenger on an outstanding warrant. A search of the vehicle produced three cell phones, more than $3,000 in cash, and a plastic baggie with a white, powdery substance, the DA's Office said.

The DA's Office said Denver detectives then obtained a search warrant for Montoya's apartment. During that search, they discovered 102 grams of cocaine, eight grams of heroin, 27 grams of meth, four digital scales, drug paraphernalia, and more than $1,000 in cash.

“It is the actions of people like the defendant that make it harder for those in law enforcement for the right reasons to do their jobs and gain the public’s trust,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “This sentence should make clear to the community that no one is above the law.”