Fort Collins Police Arrest Five on Organized Crime Charges
Fort Collins Police say they spent months probing an alleged gun and drug ring tied to teens and young adults, serving nine search warrants across Colorado and Wyoming on Feb. 3 and arresting five people—four adults and one juvenile—on Colorado Organized Crime Act charges. The operation underscores local concern over firearms trafficking and youth involvement in organized crime on the Front Range.
On Feb. 3, the FCPS Criminal Impact Unit executed nine search warrants across Loveland, Thornton, Commerce City, Denver, and Torrington, Wyo., with neighboring agencies, recovering several firearms and illegal narcotics.
Four adults face Class 2 felony Colorado Organized Crime Act charges along with weapons and drug counts. Andres Valles, 19, was charged with Class 2 felony COCCA, criminal solicitation, possession of a weapon by a previous offender, and theft of a firearm. Eugene Montoya, 18, faces Class 2 felony COCCA plus cocaine distribution, marijuana sales, dangerous weapon possession, illegal firearm discharge, and money laundering. Domicio Vargas, 22, was charged with Class 2 felony COCCA and counts involving dangerous weapon possession, illegal firearm discharge, and money laundering. Christopher Olson-Garcia, 17, faces Class 2 felony COCCA along with cocaine distribution, marijuana sales, dangerous weapon possession, illegal firearm discharge, and money laundering.
Police also arrested one juvenile in connection with the investigation, according to the city.
"Charges are merely an accusation by law enforcement, and all suspects must be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law," according to the city statement.
The case highlights local concern over youth involvement in firearms trafficking. Nine search warrants executed across five cities in Colorado and Wyoming show the scope of the alleged operation, which police framed as an organized-crime network by charging all four adults under COCCA.
Colorado law enforcement agencies must submit crime, arrest, stolen and recovered property data to the CBI, which publishes Colorado Crime Statistics using NIBRS reporting. More detailed juvenile firearms data is available through Fort Collins' JustFOIA online public-records portal or the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
"No other information is available as the matter is still an active investigation," according to the city.