Local and federal authorities make mass arrests in a Pueblo east side gang
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- Tuesday, the Pueblo Police Department (PPD) joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the 10th Judicial District Attorney's Office held a press conference to discuss a five-year investigation into violent gang activity in the city.
According to the authorities, 13 defendants were arrested and charged federally, with 12 suspects arrested and charged in the state.
"The Ace gang, at the time we started this investigation, was responsible for a large percentage of the violent crime that was happening here in Pueblo," Pueblo Police Chief Chris Noeller said.
Officials say in 2016, Ace gang members, also known as "Little Aces," were responsible for 16% of the murder, assault, narcotics possession/distribution, and weapons charges. In 2021, PPD says Ace gang members were responsible for less than 2.5% of those crimes.
Below are the ten Ace gang members who are currently serving time in federal prison.
Christopher Ortiz was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact. According to the plea agreement, Ortiz was an Ace gang member, and because of his relationship with Emilio Hall, Ortiz destroyed the firearm that Hall used to kill Floyd Robinson.
Emilio Hall was sentenced to 32 years in prison after pleading guilty to Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Activity (VICAR) murder. According to the plea agreement, on June 23, 2019, Hall shot and killed Floyd Robinson in the area of Bessemer Park in Pueblo as retaliation for a perceived offense against the Ace gang.
Issac Chavez was sentenced to 72 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. According to the plea agreement, on August 30, 2019, officers encountered Chavez after he crashed on his motorcycle. He had two active arrest warrants and his driver's license was revoked. Officers found a significant amount of methamphetamine at the scene near his crashed motorcycle. Officers also found methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine in a backpack he dumped while fleeing from officers on foot.
James Lovato was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. Lovato was an associate of the Ace gang in Pueblo. According to the plea agreement, on May 21, 2019, detective from the Pueblo Police Department’s Special Investigation Division received a tip from an anonymous source that the defendant possessed a large duffle bag containing pounds of methamphetamine and heroin. While taking Lovato into custody for an outstanding arrest warrant and executing a search warrant on his home, law enforcement discovered he was in possession of over 300 grams of methamphetamine, 40 grams of heroin, and thousands of dollars in cash.
Jose Martinez was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his plea to possession with intent to distribute heroin and violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). According to the plea agreement, on August 5, 2019, law enforcement conducted an operation to arrest Martinez on a warrant related to a July 18, 2019, fight and assault at a Pueblo bar. The FBI was able to obtain a search warrant of his apartment and recovered seven firearms, approximately 3.5 pounds of heroin, approximately 6.8 ounces of cocaine, approximately 15 grams of crack cocaine, $35,000, and several digital scales and a drug ledger.
Joseph Bachicha was sentenced to 42 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin. According to the plea agreement, on June 23, 2018, officers saw the defendant engage in hand-to-hand drug deal. At the time of his arrest, officers found approximately 49 grams of heroin in his possession.
Joseph Wisthoff was sentenced to 66 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to the plea agreement, on January 2, 2021, Wisthoff was observed running a red light by a Pueblo Police officer. Another officer arrived on scene and observed a firearm in plain view on the passenger seat of Wistoff’s vehicle. The firearm was used by Wisthoff as protection when he sold methamphetamine. When the vehicle was searched, officers located a digital scale, an empty baggie in the center console, and a baggie containing methamphetamine located between the driver’s seat and the center console, which Wisthoff intended to distribute.
Leonard Rodriguez was sentenced to 80 months of imprisonment for possession with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. The conviction was tied to a search warrant executed on September 4, 2019, where police discovered Rodriguez in possession of 507 grams of heroin, 112 grams of methamphetamine, a firearm, numerous rounds of firearm ammunition, items indicative of narcotics trafficking, and thousands of dollars in cash.
Maximillian Esquibel was sentenced to 58 months after a jury convicted him of being a felon in possession of firearms.
Victor Trujillo was sentenced to 100 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession of ammunition by a prohibited person. According to the plea agreement, officers searched for Trujillo to execute a state arrest warrant for escape. Officers identified Trujillo in a vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. Trujillo eluded officers in the vehicle. Officers eventually contacted Trujillo and arrested him. Officers observed, in plain view, a black handgun on the front, driver’s side floorboard between Trujillo’s feet. Trujillo is a convicted felon and cannot possess firearms and ammunition.
"We developed a strategy and focused on the gangs leadership. If you cut the head off the snake so to speak, you start eradicating the community and the pieces start to crumble," FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said.
U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan said this operation took violent offenders off the streets and put them in prison for a long time.
"Our work does not end here. We will continue to hold gang members and drug dealers accountable if they break the law," said Finegan. "We are not finished here. We are going to continue this work and continue to work together, and when drug dealers and people who manufacturer and peddle this poison break the law, we will be there to arrest them and prosecute them."
Pueblo District Attorney Jeff Chostner said working with federal prosecutors, like Finegan's office, is invaluable for keeping Pueblo safe and putting criminals in prison away from Pueblo.
"People will be taken to a federal prison, whether that be in Atlanta, Alabama or other places and that helps break up these gangs because if we send them to Buena Vista they are still in touch with family and criminal associates," Chostner said.
Chief Noeller said he hopes the slew of arrests and prosecutions serve as a warning to other gangs in Pueblo.
"If I was a gang member in Pueblo right now, it'd be a good time to be nervous," Noeller said.
Watch the press conference below:
