Latest news with #Orona-Rodriquez
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Soldier charged with cocaine distribution after Colorado club raid
DENVER — A soldier present at an after-hours nightclub where more than 100 immigrants suspected of being in the U.S. illegally were taken into custody last weekend has been charged with distributing cocaine, court records show. Staff Sgt. Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez, who is assigned to Fort Carson, an Army post near the illegal club in Colorado Springs, was arrested Wednesday evening, the FBI said in a statement. Orona-Rodriquez has been charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, according to an arrest affidavit. It said he allegedly sold cocaine to an undercover agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration days before the raid. It wasn't immediately known if Orona-Rodriguez — a member of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team in the 4th Infantry Division — had a lawyer ahead of an expected court appearance Thursday. The FBI said the arrest followed an investigation by the DEA, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and officials at Fort Carson. More than 300 law enforcement officers and officials from multiple agencies participated in Sunday's operation at the nightclub, which had been under investigation for months for alleged activities including drug trafficking, prostitution and 'crimes of violence,' said Jonathan Pullen, special agent in charge of the DEA's Rocky Mountain Division. Cocaine was among the drugs found, Pullen said at a news conference. Orona-Rodriquez was one of about 17 active-duty U.S. Army service members who were at the club, known as Warike, when it was raided early Sunday, the affidavit said. He appears to have held a leadership role in a business that provides armed security at nightclubs, including at Warike, according to the document. However, it did not say whether he was working security there at the time of the raid. It notes that he had been warned by his commanding officer this spring that he could not work for the security company. Rodriguez received more than a dozen Army awards during his almost nine years in service, including an Army Commendation Medal with combat device, which is earned during a deployment where the soldier was 'performing meritoriously under the most arduous combat conditions,' according to Army descriptions of the award. Of the 17 soldiers who were at the venue at the time of the raid, 16 were patrons and one was working there in a security role, a U.S. official said on the condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. Sixteen of the soldiers there were assigned to Fort Carson, the official did not know where the seventeenth was assigned. Investigators suspect Orona-Rodriguez was getting cocaine from an unidentified Mexican citizen who is 'unlawfully present in the United States without admission,' according to the affidavit. President Donald Trump posted a link to the DEA video of the raid on his social media site, Truth Social. 'A big Raid last night on some of the worst people illegally in our Country — Drug Dealers, Murderers, and other Violent Criminals, of all shapes and sizes,' the president wrote. Associated Press writer Tara Copp in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Soldier at a Colorado nightclub during an immigration raid charged with distributing cocaine
DENVER (AP) — A soldier present at an after-hours nightclub where more than 100 immigrants suspected of being in the U.S. illegally were taken into custody last weekend has been charged with distributing cocaine, court records show. Staff Sgt. Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez, who is assigned to Fort Carson, an Army post near the illegal club in Colorado Springs, was arrested Wednesday evening, the FBI said in a statement. Orona-Rodriquez has been charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, according to an arrest affidavit. It said he allegedly sold cocaine to an undercover agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration days before the raid. It wasn't immediately known if Orona-Rodriguez — a member of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team in the 4th Infantry Division — had a lawyer ahead of an expected court appearance Thursday. The FBI said the arrest followed an investigation by the DEA, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and officials at Fort Carson. More than 300 law enforcement officers and officials from multiple agencies participated in Sunday's operation at the nightclub, which had been under investigation for months for alleged activities including drug trafficking, prostitution and 'crimes of violence,' said Jonathan Pullen, special agent in charge of the DEA's Rocky Mountain Division. Cocaine was among the drugs found, Pullen said at a news conference. Orona-Rodriquez was one of about 17 active-duty U.S. Army service members who were at the club, known as Warike, when it was raided early Sunday, the affidavit said. He appears to have held a leadership role in a business that provides armed security at nightclubs, including at Warike, according to the document. However, it did not say whether he was working security there at the time of the raid. It notes that he had been warned by his commanding officer this spring that he could not work for the security company. Rodriguez received more than a dozen Army awards during his almost nine years in service, including an Army Commendation Medal with combat device, which is earned during a deployment where the soldier was 'performing meritoriously under the most arduous combat conditions,' according to Army descriptions of the award. Of the 17 soldiers who were at the venue at the time of the raid, 16 were patrons and one was working there in a security role, a U.S. official said on the condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. Sixteen of the soldiers there were assigned to Fort Carson, the official did not know where the seventeenth was assigned. Investigators suspect Orona-Rodriguez was getting cocaine from an unidentified Mexican citizen who is 'unlawfully present in the United States without admission,' according to the affidavit. President Donald Trump posted a link to the DEA video of the raid on his social media site, Truth Social. 'A big Raid last night on some of the worst people illegally in our Country — Drug Dealers, Murderers, and other Violent Criminals, of all shapes and sizes,' the president wrote. _____ Associated Press writer Tara Copp in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.
The Independent
01-05-2025
- The Independent
Soldier at a Colorado nightclub during an immigration raid charged with distributing cocaine
A soldier present at an after-hours nightclub where more than 100 immigrants suspected of being in the U.S. illegally were taken into custody last weekend has been charged with distributing cocaine, court records show. Staff Sgt. Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez, who is assigned to Fort Carson, an Army post near the illegal club in Colorado Springs, was arrested Wednesday evening, the FBI said in a statement. Orona-Rodriquez has been charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, according to an arrest affidavit. It said he allegedly sold cocaine to an undercover agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration days before the raid. It wasn't immediately known if Orona-Rodriguez — a member of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team in the 4th Infantry Division — had a lawyer ahead of an expected court appearance Thursday. The FBI said the arrest followed an investigation by the DEA, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and officials at Fort Carson. More than 300 law enforcement officers and officials from multiple agencies participated in Sunday's operation at the nightclub, which had been under investigation for months for alleged activities including drug trafficking, prostitution and 'crimes of violence,' said Jonathan Pullen, special agent in charge of the DEA's Rocky Mountain Division. Cocaine was among the drugs found, Pullen said at a news conference. Orona-Rodriquez was one of about 17 active-duty U.S. Army service members who were at the club, known as Warike, when it was raided early Sunday, the affidavit said. He appears to have held a leadership role in a business that provides armed security at nightclubs, including at Warike, according to the document. However, it did not say whether he was working security there at the time of the raid. It notes that he had been warned by his commanding officer this spring that he could not work for the security company. Rodriguez received more than a dozen Army awards during his almost nine years in service, including an Army Commendation Medal with combat device, which is earned during a deployment where the soldier was 'performing meritoriously under the most arduous combat conditions,' according to Army descriptions of the award. Of the 17 soldiers who were at the venue at the time of the raid, 16 were patrons and one was working there in a security role, a U.S. official said on the condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. Sixteen of the soldiers there were assigned to Fort Carson, the official did not know where the seventeenth was assigned. Investigators suspect Orona-Rodriguez was getting cocaine from an unidentified Mexican citizen who is 'unlawfully present in the United States without admission,' according to the affidavit. President Donald Trump posted a link to the DEA video of the raid on his social media site, Truth Social. 'A big Raid last night on some of the worst people illegally in our Country — Drug Dealers, Murderers, and other Violent Criminals, of all shapes and sizes,' the president wrote. _____
Toronto Sun
01-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
Soldier at Colorado nightclub during immigration raid charged with distributing cocaine
Published May 01, 2025 • 2 minute read Cocaine. DENVER — A soldier present at an after-hours nightclub where more than 100 immigrants suspected of being in the U.S. illegally were taken into custody last weekend has been charged with distributing cocaine, court records show. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Staff Sgt. Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez, who is assigned to Fort Carson, an Army post near the illegal club in Colorado Springs, was arrested Wednesday evening, the FBI said in a statement. The arrest came after an investigation by the DEA, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and officials at Fort Carson, the FBI said. Orona-Rodriquez, a member of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team in the 4th Infantry Division, has been charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine after allegedly selling cocaine to an undercover DEA agent sometime during the week before the raid, according to an arrest affidavit. It wasn't immediately known if the soldier has a lawyer, but he was expected to appear in court later Thursday. More than 300 law enforcement officers and officials from multiple agencies participated in Sunday's operation at the nightclub, which had been under investigation for months for alleged activities including drug trafficking, prostitution and 'crimes of violence,' said Jonathan Pullen, special agent in charge of the DEA's Rocky Mountain Division. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Cocaine was among the drugs found, Pullen said at a news conference. Orona-Rodriquez was one of about 17 active-duty U.S. Army service members who were at the club, known as Warike, when it was raided early Sunday, the affidavit said. He appears to have held a leadership role in a business that provides armed security at nightclubs, including at Warike, according to the document. However, it did not say whether he was working security there at the time of the raid. It notes that he had been warned by his commanding officer this spring that he could not work for the security company. Of the 17 soldiers who were at the venue at the time of the raid, 16 were patrons and one was working there in a security role, a U.S. official said on the condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. Sixteen of the soldiers there were assigned to Fort Carson, the official did not know where the seventeenth was assigned. Investigators suspect Orona-Rodriguez was getting cocaine from an unidentified Mexican citizen who is 'unlawfully present in the United States without admission,' according to the affidavit. President Donald Trump posted a link to the DEA video of the raid on his social media site, Truth Social. 'A big Raid last night on some of the worst people illegally in our Country — Drug Dealers, Murderers, and other Violent Criminals, of all shapes and sizes,' the president wrote. Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto & GTA NFL Editorial Cartoons NHL
Associated Press
01-05-2025
- Associated Press
Soldier at a Colorado nightclub during an immigration raid charged with distributing cocaine
DENVER (AP) — A soldier present at an after-hours nightclub where more than 100 immigrants suspected of being in the U.S. illegally were taken into custody last weekend has been charged with distributing cocaine, court records show. Staff Sgt. Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez, who is assigned to Fort Carson, an Army post near the illegal club in Colorado Springs, was arrested Wednesday evening, the FBI said in a statement. The arrest came after an investigation by the DEA, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and officials at Fort Carson, the FBI said. Orona-Rodriquez, a member of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team in the 4th Infantry Division, has been charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine after allegedly selling cocaine to an undercover DEA agent sometime during the week before the raid, according to an arrest affidavit. It wasn't immediately known if the soldier has a lawyer, but he was expected to appear in court later Thursday. More than 300 law enforcement officers and officials from multiple agencies participated in Sunday's operation at the nightclub, which had been under investigation for months for alleged activities including drug trafficking, prostitution and 'crimes of violence,' said Jonathan Pullen, special agent in charge of the DEA's Rocky Mountain Division. Cocaine was among the drugs found, Pullen said at a news conference. Orona-Rodriquez was one of about 17 active-duty U.S. Army service members who were at the club, known as Warike, when it was raided early Sunday, the affidavit said. He appears to have held a leadership role in a business that provides armed security at nightclubs, including at Warike, according to the document. However, it did not say whether he was working security there at the time of the raid. It notes that he had been warned by his commanding officer this spring that he could not work for the security company. Of the 17 soldiers who were at the venue at the time of the raid, 16 were patrons and one was working there in a security role, a U.S. official said on the condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. Sixteen of the soldiers there were assigned to Fort Carson, the official did not know where the seventeenth was assigned. Investigators suspect Orona-Rodriguez was getting cocaine from an unidentified Mexican citizen who is 'unlawfully present in the United States without admission,' according to the affidavit. President Donald Trump posted a link to the DEA video of the raid on his social media site, Truth Social. 'A big Raid last night on some of the worst people illegally in our Country — Drug Dealers, Murderers, and other Violent Criminals, of all shapes and sizes,' the president wrote. _____ Associated Press writer Tara Copp in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.
