http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_16556855

Firefighter, coach among arrested in alleged cocaine ring
by Joey Bunch / The Denver Post
Posted: 11/08/2010 07:20:04 PM MST

Thirty-five people, including a retired Denver firefighter and an assistant baseball coach at Regis University, were part of a gang-affiliated network that distributed 20 kilograms of Mexican cocaine a week in metro Denver, the U.S. Attorney's Office said today.

The cocaine was processed by the Sinaloa Cartel in Juarez, Mexico, and carried to Denver, by way of El Paso, Texas, in secret compartments in cars and trucks, said John Walsh, the U.S. attorney for Colorado.

Once in Denver, the drugs were sold street level by members of two Denver gangs, the Tre Deuce Gangster Crips and Northside Mafia, he said.

"Taking 20 kilograms of cocaine a week off the street puts a substantial crimp in the flow of cocaine into Colorado," he said.

Twenty kilograms is a little more than 44 pounds.

All but three of the 35 are U.S. residents, he said. That includes 56-year-old David Cordova, a retired firefighter, and Ronald Rocha, 40, a baseball coach at Regis.

Cordova and Rocha were among 23 arrested in a sweep of the metro region Friday by 150 law enforcement officers from 20 agencies in the metro region.

Five others were arrested in El Paso, Las Vegas, Nev., Illinois and Alabama. One was already in police custody and six remain at large, authorities said at an afternoon press conference.

Each faces 10 years to life in prison and up to $4 million in fines, if convicted.

Neither Walsh nor other members of the Metro Drug Task Force would discuss how they cracked the alleged ring and connected its members, other than to say the investigation began with Robert "Big Smoke" Thompson, 39, who was arrested in Lakewood on Friday on an indictment allegeding possession and intent to distribute more than 50 kilograms of crack cocaine.

Walsh and Jim Davis, the agent in charge of the FBI office in Denver, credited Metro Gang Task Force and other agences for their work in the investigation.

"I have never seen a more prolific and more effective task force, Davis said.

The investigation netted a total of 53 kilograms of cocaine, including 27 kilograms that were intercepted in two traffic stops in Pueblo. Authorities also confiscated 35 pounds of marijuana, $650,000 in cash, nine firearms and 15 vehicles, which could be forfeited to the government upon conviction.

Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com

Those indicted are:

Luis Aguero-Saenz, 20, arrested in El Paso, Texas.
Eulises Alvarado-Carrillo, 29, arrested in Lakewood.
Mario Armendariz, 23, arrested in Wellington.
Jose Luis Arroyo, 23, arrested in Denver.
Alonso Barrendey, 22, arrested in Denver.
Mary Bonilla, 51, fugitive.
Ruben Bustamante, 25, fugitive.
Karl Cdebaca, 30, arrested in Denver.
David Cordova, 56, arrested in Denver.
Agustin Cordova-Campos, 45, arrested in Englewood,
Jaime Cordova-Campos, 40, arrested in Aurora.
Austin Gilmore, 28, arrested in Wheat Ridge.
Ernesto Gonzalez, 29, fugitive.
Claudia Gutierrez, 26, arrested in Adams County.
Gustavo Macias-Cordova, 24, arrested in Arvada.
Christopher Madick, 26, arrested in Denver.
Andrew Martinez, 27, previously in federal custody.
Daniel Martinez, 33, arrested in Las Vegas, Nev.
Santiago Martinez-Lopez, 29, arrested in Denver.
Xallier Patterson, 36, arrested in Huntsville, Ala.
Jose Andres Quezada-Hernandez, 44, fugitive.
Eduardo Rivas, 29, arrested in Arvada.
Jose Rivas, 25, arrested in Thornton.
Ronald Rocha, 40, arrested in Denver.
Sergio Rodriguez, 33, arrested in Denver.
Josefina Sandoval, 30, fugitive.
Alex Sisneros, 24, arrested in Thornton.
Hugo Sotelo-Morales, 32, fugitive.
Marvin Tabor, 37, arrested in Illinois.
Richard Talmich, 32, arrested in Denver.
Robert Thompson, 39, arrested in Lakewood.
Ivan Ulloa, 29, arrested in Lakewood.
Jose Urrutia-Torres, 37, arrested in El Paso, Texas
Isaac Vigil, 26, arrested in Denver
Brittany Williams, 21, arrested in Denver.