This month, the Colorado District Attorneys’ Council (CDAC) honored one of our prosecution teams with the 2023 Outstanding Trial Team of the Year award. This prestigious recognition is only presented to one team each year for their dedication and hard work in solving challenging cases.
This year’s award was given to our prosecution team who worked on convicting more than a dozen defendants for their roles in a series of violent, gang-related crimes in Arapahoe County dating back to 2019. MS-13 gang members and their accomplices would target anyone they perceived as a “threat” by stalking their victims, stabbing, and shooting them.
In August 2023, our Office issued a news release outlining a series of homicides and attempted murders this organized group was behind. You can view a copy of that release here.
Mauricio Alvarado Vasquez, David Tobias-Carbijal and Josue Tobas-Carbijal are all currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole. Several other defendants have also been sentenced to the Department of Corrections.
This trial team consisted of the following individuals:
Chief Deputy District Attorney Jason Siers
Chief Deputy District Attorney Laura Wilson
Senior Chief Deputy District Attorney Vicki Klingensmith
Deputy District Attorney Grant Grosgebauer
Victim Witness Specialist Misty Armijo
Victim Witness Specialist Amanda Chase
Victim Witness Specialist Emily Riley
Office Manager and Senior Paralegal Amber Cochran
Detective Matt Ingui with the Aurora Police Department
Detective Vina Maciel-Diaz with the Denver Police Department
“These convictions would not have been possible without our strong law enforcement relationships, “Chief Deputy District Attorney Jason Siers said. “Countless hours were spent reviewing surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses, and collecting evidence for trial.”
This is the second consecutive year that one of our trial teams was presented this award by the Colorado District Attorneys’ Council. In 2022, our Cold Case Unit received the Outstanding Trial Team of the Year award for their work in solving and prosecuting the 1981 cold case murder of Sylvia Quale in Cherry Hills Village. Case details on that conviction can be found here.
“We have some of the most dedicated prosecutors working in the 18th Judicial District and I’m humbled that Colorado’s prosecution community recognizes this achievement,” District Attorney John Kellner said. “Every day, our staff works hard to bring justice to victims and their families. I’m confident our community is safer because of the hard work this trial team performed.”