Leader of Weld County drug trafficking ring sentenced to hundreds of years in prison

DENVER ( KDVR ) — The Weld County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday that the leader of a “ major Weld County drug trafficking operation ” was sentenced to serve over 300 years in prison for his crimes last week.

On June 10, a Weld County jury found Jose Arellano-Arredondo, 67, guilty on 44 charges, including several counts of money laundering and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Arellano-Arredondo was arrested after an undercover investigation by the Weld County Drug Task Force that began in 2019. Throughout the investigation, law enforcement seized thousands of fentanyl pills, multiple pounds of methamphetamine, several ounces of cocaine and over $100,000 in cash that was connected to Arellano-Arredondo and co-conspirators’ distribution and laundering.

Investigators learned that the drugs were transported from Mexico to Nevada and Arizona, then sent to the drug ring leader in Greeley. Undercover purchases from the drug ring led to authorities executing a search warrant at Arellano-Arredondo’s home in September 2020.

Arellano-Arredondo was sentenced on Aug. 8 to serve 376 years in the Department of Corrections for his actions.

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