TELLURIDE – The U.S. Attorney’s office has filed federal charges against three local men arrested in September for their alleged role in cocaine trafficking.
According to an indictment handed down by a federal grand jury on Tuesday and filed on Wednesday, Telluride residents Erik Sanchez-Cristobal, Marco Antonio “Tono” Garcia-Garcia, and Enrique “Kiki” Hernandez-Garcia have each been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and three counts of possession with intent to distribute.
The most serious charges involve quantities of cocaine of five kilograms or more and carry prison terms of 10 years to life, fines of up to $4 million, or both.
The three heard the charges against them during a federal court appearance in Grand Junction on Thursday and are presently in federal custody, according to U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesperson Jeffrey Dorschner.
Although he did not yet have information on when they will next appear in court, Dorschner confirmed that the three would be moved to Denver and tried there.
While the three were being held in Montrose on $5 million bonds, federal prosecutors will ask that they be held without bail, Dorschner confirmed.
Also arrested during the September bust were Sanchez’s wife, Maria Vargas-Gonzales, and Gilberto Garcia-Garcia.
The two will be tried on state charges in the Seventh Judicial District.
Post a Comment
