Four people have been arrested after they were among nine indicted by the 18th Judicial District Grand Jury as part of an alleged heroin and methamphetamine drug trafficking organization.
The investigation was led by the District Attorney’s Office of the 18th Judicial District and the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the arrests were carried out Oct. 4 with assistance from the Aurora Police Department, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Department, Denver Police Department, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and United States Marshals Service.
The defendants will be tried in Arapahoe District Court.
The indictment laid out 21 counts against nine defendants and covered April to September of 2017. The most serious charge, violation of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (COCCA) – pattern of racketeering, is a Class 2 felony.
Other counts include drug distribution and possession, conspiracy and weapons charges.
The defendants:
• Javier Mendez-Flores, 23, of Aurora is charged with 16 counts. He was arrested in Aurora.
• Christian Ramirez-Badillo, 30, of Aurora is charged with seven counts. He was arrested in Adams County.
• Yennifer Meraz-Terrazas, 31, is charged with one count. She was arrested in Adams County.
• Alan Parendes, 23, of Denver is charged with one count and was arrested in Aurora.
• Fernando Valdez Beltran, 36, is charged with one count. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
• Jose Luis Castro-Lopez, 31, is charged with one count. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
• Karina Javalera-Gomez, 21, of Aurora is charged with three counts. A warrant has been issued for her arrest.
• Moises Pina-Loya, 31, of Aurora is charged with eight counts. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
• Brittany Talmich, 27, of Littleton is charged with six counts. A warrant has been issued for her arrest.
Criminal charges are merely a formal accusation that an individual has committed a crime. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
These are the counts charged in the indictment:
1. Violation of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act – pattern of racketeering – participation in an enterprise
2. Violation of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act – conspiracy / endeavoring
3. Distribution of an imitation controlled substance
4. Distribution of a controlled substance – heroin – over 112 grams
5. Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance – heroin – over 112 grams
6. Possession of a weapon by a previous offender
7. Special offender – firearm
8. Distribution of a controlled substance – methamphetamine – over 112 grams
9. Possession of a weapon by a previous offender
10. Special offender – firearm
11. Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance – heroin – over 112 grams
12. Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance – methamphetamine – over 112 grams
13. Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance – methamphetamine – over 112 grams
14. Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance – heroin – over 7 grams less than 112 grams
15. Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance – methamphetamine – over 112 grams
16. Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance – methamphetamine – over 112 grams
17. Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance – methamphetamine – over 112 grams
18. Reckless endangerment of a child
19. Distribution of a controlled substance – heroin – over 7 grams less than 112 grams
20. Distribution of a controlled substance – methamphetamine – over 112 grams
21. Possession of a weapon by a previous offender
