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Sifuentes Hector
ATF AND DENVER POLICE DEPARTMENT ARREST 16 PEOPLE FOR FIREARMS AND/OR DRUG VIOLATIONS
DENVER Đ Sixteen people have been arrested by the ATF and the Denver Police Department during the past 72 hours for firearm or drug violations of federal and state law. Of the sixteen defendants, four are being prosecuted in federal court, and eleven are being prosecuted in state court. One juvenile was also arrested. There is also one federal fugitive. The defendants are members or associates of various local gangs in Denver. The four defendants arrested on federal charges were all indicted earlier this week by a federal grand jury in Denver.
During the investigation, agents and officers acting in an undercover capacity purchased 27 firearms.
Those arrested based on the grand jury indictments are:
* Gabriel E. Silva, age 34, of Denver. Silva is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
* Carl E. Peterson, age 47, of Denver. Peterson is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
* Vincent Michael Valdez, age 25, of Denver. Valdez is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
* Curtis Alan David, age 22, of Denver. Davis is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
In addition to the four federal arrests, the following seven people have been arrested and will be prosecuted by the state. Note one of the seven defendants is a juvenile, and thus information about that arrest is not available. They are:
* Rudolfo Dominguez, age 20, of Denver
* Mheron Doage, age 20, of Denver
* Victor Amaro, age 20, of Denver
* Araceli DeLarosa-Quintana, age 38, of Denver
* Javier Ramos-Torres, age 30, of Denver
* Hector Toby Sifuentes, age 41, of Denver
The following four people were arrested for outstanding warrants during the enforcement action. They are:
* Martin DeLarosa, age 23, of Denver
* Esteban Castro, age 22, of Denver
* Ariel Randolph, age 19, of Denver
* Juan Lozano, age 18, of Denver
ŇThanks to the hard work of all the agencies involved, 16 people who illegally use firearms or sell drugs have been apprehended and are now being prosecuted,Ó said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. ŇThe streets of Denver will be safer as a result of this enforcement action.Ó
ŇThis successful investigation with state and federal agencies focused on activities that threaten the well-being of our community,Ó said Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey. ŇThese arrests send a clear message that this behavior will not be tolerated and those who would participate in gun and drug trafficking will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.Ó
ŇThis investigation is the result of the Denver Police Department and ATF working collectively to target violent offenders whose repeated involvement in illegal gun trafficking and narcotic sales threaten the safety of Denver residents,Ó said Marvin Richardson, Special Agent in Charge for the ATF Denver Field Division. ŇThe core mission of ATF is to eradicate violent crime by working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who criminally use firearms and promote violence in our communities.Ó
ŇThe success of this joint operation between the Denver Police Department and the ATF has made our communities safer,Ó said Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman. ŇWe strongly believe we have adversely impacted the illegal gun and drug sales in Denver.Ó
If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition, the defendant faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. If convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, the defendant faces not more than 20 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Denver Police Department, the Aurora Police Department, the Lakewood Police Department, the Westminster Police Department, the Denver District AttorneyŐs Office, and the United States Marshals Service and their Fugitive Location and Apprehension Group (FLAG).
The federal defendants are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Sibert. The state defendants are being prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney in charge of the gang unit Tim Twining.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until found guilty.
“Not everyone who appears here has been convicted of a crime.”
So, why not wait until they have been convicted before posting their information? How can they be called “rogues” if they are presumed innocent (and possibly are innocent)?
I’ll bet the Post had to look through a whole bunch of photo’s to glean these mostly caucasian men and women, but as you know, we want to be PC.
Shame on the Denver Post for this entire spectacle of a section. These are not even convicted criminals and some of these are for crimes ranging as low as traffic violations. This makes me not even want to bother reading the Post from now on.
gofastgo Where do you get the “mostly Caucasian men and women” . I count many different ethnicitys included in this free for all.
Colorado law should take a good look at what the majority of these crimes involve. I read ever single one of them. The main crime depicted was crimes against Children. It’s pretty sick and sad to know that one of the united states top ten educated states has not come up with higher punishments for endangerment of children and or public speculation of those accused of abusing, neglecting,and exploiting children and minors. If there was more done on these issues there may be more kids who stand up against assualts and don’t wait years before they have the nerve to speak out against the people who do this to them. As for the ones that harm the infants higher punishments should be established. Period. What are the common factors of people who can beat, or allow another person not of blood relation beat a child badly enough to kill them? Drugs? Parental neglect? More effort needs to be made when it come to the kids.
Well said James!
I find this to be completely reprehensible. The Post should be ashamed of themselves. What happened to the American Justice system, this is a deplorable act to get people to visit their website and increase advertising revenues. Shame on you.
This is a horribly ill-considered exercise in gratuitous prurience.
this is disgusting………. what happened to innocent until proven guilty in Colorado?? This whole post is repulsive and likely unconstitutional. it should be shut down now
Why is everything about race. Colorado is the one the state that’s an equal opportunity jailer. So quit whinning about race. Demographics show there’s more Caucasian’s than anyone else.
This is so unfair. Like many people say why to post before they are convicted. Why is one of this men without shirt on this photo? couldn’t they give him a shirt to take the picture? we are all humans and our condition as humans should be respected in every situation. This is a shame to America.
This is offensive. People’s misfortune are not entertainment, Denver Post. I commented as such when this feature was posted on Facebook, and you said it would be removed. I guess you meant removed from Facebook, not from your site. Shameful.
This is disgusting and it is not journalism. Shame on the Denver Post for stooping to such a low level. It may be appropriate to publish information concerning those who have been convicted but this is cheap and it lacks professionalism. Someone on your staff should be looking for a new job.
Thank you for providing this Rogues Gallery because I like to place a face to a deed, good or bad. However, some of these pictures show WHY these low lifes commit their bad deeds or crimes and I wouldn’t want to be in the same picture with them! It seems many of the younger society are dropouts in life; for instance, no one in their right mind could suggest the pictures above show a good education and self-discipline. This is so sad for the youth of today.
I don’t know what the probelm is the Denver Post did not say these are convicted criminals they are simply saying these individuals were arrested there is a huge difference. Additionally, these are not only photos of only white males they are photos of both genders and all races . So, I am not seeing what the problem is unless you three are afraid you might end up with your photo posted in this section of the Denver Post.
This is a great idea, good job Denver Post. @Mike Eiler – How is it a misfortune if you get arrested?? They broke the law, deserve what they get.
Before people start discussing the race card let’s get something straight:
“According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Colorado had a population of 5,029,196. In terms of race and ethnicity, the state was 81.3% White (70.0% Non-Hispanic White Alone), 4.0% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 7.2% from Some Other Race, and 3.4% from Two or More Races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race made up 20.7% of the population.”
So, when you say there are more white people mug shots remember that they constitute 81.3% of the people in this state, so anything outside that figure shows a misrepresentation of a given group.
shame on you Denver Post. Innocent until proven guilty?
totally fine with posting the mugshots of convicted criminals….. but some of these are awaiting trial…… thats not right imho
Send your comments directly to Tim Rasmussen at the Denver Post .
Since “not everyone who appears here has been convicted of a crime” I request that you make your reporting more objective by eliminating the “cute” headline of “The Rogue’s Gallery”. Just report the news…don’t editorialize something as important as an individual’s assumed innocence before being found guilty.
Tim Rasmussen’s email is trasmussen at denverpost . com
trasmussen@denverpost.com
I sent an email to Tim Rasmussen at The Denver Post regarding the unethical nature of including people who have not been convicted as part of “The Rogues Gallery”. Here is part of his indignant reply:
“…We started this to have a place where the public can inform themselves and it is working well. Having said that we always welcome and consider the views of all of our readers, we have considered your question before, and will reconsider as the gallery continues. Sincerely Tim Rasmussen”
Providing a dissenting comment on this page is like spitting into the wind. Send him a direct email and let your voice be heard: trasmussen@denverpost.com