3 facing charges in fentanyl pill-making operation found in Aurora home

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver police announced Wednesday the arrest of three suspects as a result of a months-long, “complex” investigation on suspicion of manufacturing and distributing fentanyl pills, among other charges.

FOX31 reported on the case on May 1 when the Denver Police Department, Aurora SWAT, Homeland Security and the Drug Enforcement Administration conjoined to serve a narcotics-related search warrant at an Aurora home . The search, conducted in the 1800 block of South Olathe Street, led to investigators finding a fentanyl pill-making operation.

The May 1 search warrant resulted in officers seizing five pill-making presses, other equipment, suspected fentanyl, other narcotics and firearms. Investigators said the operation was capable of producing approximately 20,000 pills daily, but the actual amount of pills produced is unknown, according to Denver police.

Police also found four adults and three children inside the home during the search warrant. All of the children were four years old or younger. One of the children tested positive for fentanyl exposure after the search warrant, according to police.

2 arrested during search warrant now facing charges

Two of the adults were arrested in May on outstanding warrants not directly related to the search warrant, but now both are facing a slew of charges for the alleged pill-making operation.

Tashon Roberts, 33, was arrested on July 2 and is facing charges of:

• Possession with intent: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams
• Unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams
• Conspiracy, controlled substance: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams
• Special offender: Conspiracy, pattern of sale
• Special offender: Source of income
• Special offender: Firearm
• Special offender: Fentanyl pill press
• Three counts of child abuse: Manufacturing controlled substance
• Child abuse: Serious bodily injury knowingly or recklessly

Coleman Phillips, 34, was arrested on June 20 on investigation of:

• Possession with intent: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams
• Unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams
• Conspiracy, controlled substance: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams
• Special offender: Source of income
• Special offender: Firearm
• Special offender: Fentanyl pill press
• Three counts of child abuse: Manufacturing controlled substance
• Child abuse: Serious bodily injury knowingly or recklessly

Imani Hale, 28, was arrested July 2 on suspicion of:

• Possession with intent: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams
• Unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams
• Conspiracy, controlled substance: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams
• Special offender: Firearm
• Special offender: Fentanyl pill press
• Three counts of child abuse: Manufacturing controlled substance
• Child abuse: Serious bodily injury knowingly or recklessly

Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said his agency will continue “aggressively pursuing” manufacturers and dealers of illicit narcotics. He said the dismantling of the pill-making operation potentially saved lives in the community.

According to the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, the city saw 598 deaths involving drugs last year, and of those, 389 involved fentanyl.

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