Four men have been sentenced to federal prison terms – ranging from 2½ years to 10 years – for distributing illegal drugs in Southwest Colorado, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Colorado.
All four men pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute. They were sentenced Monday in Durango by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Blackburn.
The four cases are independent of each other, said Deborah Takahara, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The four defendants are:
- Camelo Martinez, 30, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for distributing methamphetamine on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. According to court documents and information presented at sentencing, Martinez used an intermediary to distribute 56.2 grams of methamphetamine in July 2020. The case was investigated by the Southern Ute Police Department.
- Roger Reyes, 39, who was sentenced to seven years and three months for possession with intent to distribute heroin in Alamosa. Law enforcement observed Reyes leave the home of a known gang member and was found to be in possession of 122.4 grams of heroin, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Alamosa Police Department.
- Aaron Claycomb, 37, who was sentenced to seven years in prison for distributing heroin in Durango. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Claycomb sold 195.6 grams of methamphetamine to undercover law enforcement agents at a gas station in Durango. At the time, Claycomb was on parole for several other drug-related convictions. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Southwestern Drug Task Force and the Southern Ute Police Department.
- Abraham Romero, 33, who was sentenced to 2½ years in prison for distributing methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine in Alamosa. Law enforcement searched Romero’s home in June 2021 and found 89 grams of a meth mixture, 36 grams of heroin and 13.2 grams of cocaine separated into ziplock baggies, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and Alamosa Police Department.
“During the current opioid epidemic, the steadfast dangers of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin are often eclipsed by the proliferating fentanyl threat,” said Brian Besser, a special agent in charge with the DEA’s office in Denver. “Methamphetamine continues to be one of the most deadly drug threats within our communities.”
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Graves.
shane@durangoherald.com
