U.S. Attorney's Office Obtains Two Guilty Pleas from Gang Members with Guns

DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office, working closely with its law enforcement partners, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced that two unrelated gang members who committed firearm crimes have recently pled guilty to those crimes.  Both defendants now await sentencing.

Colton Field, age 32, of Metro Denver, a Crenshaw Mafia Gangster Blood, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on February 11, 2015 and then pled guilty on June 5, 2015 before U.S. District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello to being a felon in possession of a firearm, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 7, 2015 by Judge Arguello. According to the stipulated facts contained in Field’s plea agreement, on December 11, 2014 an Aurora Police officer heard the stereo of a blue PT Cruiser from 50 feet away.  The officer stopped the car based on a noise violation.  Field was driving the vehicle. 

After pulling the vehicle over, the officer noticed a tattoo and clothing that stated “104,” consistent with the Crenshaw Mafia Gangster Bloods.  When asked to provide his identification, Field, gave a false name.  After the officer asked him to step out of the car, Field drove off recklessly.  Responding officers found an empty PT Cruiser.  An inventory search of the vehicle revealed ammunition and a 9 mm firearm.  The defendant was then located hiding under a car near where the PT Cruiser was found.  Further investigation revealed that the defendant had been handling the firearm, including loading it.  The defendant’s girlfriend purchased the firearm at a pawn shop.  Field faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.  This case was investigated by the Aurora Police Department and the ATF.  The defendant is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth Gibson.

Jonathan Thomas Fricks, age 34, of Denver, an Oldies 13 gang member, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on December 16, 2014 and then pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello to possession with intent to distribute at least 5 grams of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 22, 2015 by Judge Arguello.  According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, between August 14 and 15, 2014, a Colorado Department of Corrections Community Parole Officer (CPO) was investigating the whereabouts of Fricks, who was wanted on a parole violation. The CPO was able to locate the defendant at a Motel 6 in Denver.  At the motel the CPO observed the defendant loading items into a car in the parking lot. The defendant and a woman then departed the Motel 6.  The CPO called for backup from the Denver Police Fugitive Team and followed the defendant and the woman to Edgewater, Colorado. The defendant was arrested inside a local grocery store. Upon his arrest, officers found $3,755 in cash in the defendant’s pants pocket. 

The CPO searched the car in which defendant was riding. Within the car, the CPO unzipped a black and white bag and observed a magazine with ammunition loaded in it and the butt of a gun. Upon discovering the firearm, the CPO called for agents from the ATF to assist with the search. A full search of the car by ATF agents revealed a 9 mm pistol loaded with seventeen rounds; a second magazine containing five rounds of ammunition; three baggies containing 47 grams of methamphetamine; and other drug trafficking related items.  The methamphetamine Fricks possessed was at least 95 percent pure. Fricks faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in federal prison, and up to a $5,000,000 fine.  This case was investigated by the Colorado Department of Corrections, the Denver Police Department, and the ATF.  The defendant is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly.

These cases arise out of the Project Safe Neighborhood initiative, a partnership which includes the Aurora, Denver and Lakewood Police Departments (among others), working in concert with the ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.