Carlos Sanford-Valdez, Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking, Colorado 2022

Carlos Sanford-Valdez, a.k.a. ‘Charlie Vuitton,’ age 30, was sentenced to 240 months and five years of supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine in Denver, Colorado. Co-defendant Kataina Jackson-Keeling, a.k.a. ‘Tana Ten Birdz,’ age 37, was sentenced to 120 months for his role in the conspiracy.

According to the defendants’ plea agreements, from May 2022 to April 2023, Mr. Sanford-Valdez and Mr. Jackson-Keeling—Crip gang members who were also part of a criminal network that called themselves the ‘Bird Gang’—and others sold large amounts of fentanyl and cocaine in the Denver Metro area. The defendants separately traveled to Arizona to obtain fentanyl pills, which they then transported or attempted to transport back to Colorado for distribution.

According to Sanford-Valdez’s plea agreement, Sanford-Valdez flew to Arizona on July 30, 2022, to obtain fentanyl pills, which he provided to an associate for transport back to Colorado. The associate was stopped by law enforcement en route to Colorado, and authorities seized approximately 60,000 fentanyl pills. The associate was later indicted along with Sanford-Valdez.

On August 19, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant on a vehicle driven by Sanford-Valdez and another associate who was later indicted with Sanford-Valdez. During the search, officers recovered a 9mm handgun, 15 rounds of ammunition, $2,494 in cash, and more than 10,000 fentanyl pills. Further, on October 11, 2022, Sanford-Valdez was stopped in Arizona for erratic driving but fled the scene. Following a brief pursuit, law enforcement searched the vehicle he was driving and recovered three cell phones, $37,670 in cash, a firearm, and marijuana.

According to Jackson-Keeling’s plea agreement, on November 14, 2022, Jackson-Keeling mailed a package from Arizona to Colorado. The package was intercepted and searched by law enforcement. Inside, officers found several children’s toys and ten individually wrapped bundles containing a total of 10,102 fentanyl pills.

This case is a perfect example of how organized criminal networks, like the so-called ‘Bird Gang,’ are fueling the fentanyl crisis in our communities,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “These defendants trafficked tens of thousands of fentanyl pills into the Denver Metro area. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement, we were able to disrupt their operation, prevent deadly substances from reaching our streets, and prosecute the people who were most responsible.

This investigation demonstrates the resolve of DEA and our partners, by stopping the Bird Gang and its members from spreading poisonous fentanyl and committing acts of violence in our communities,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. “We’ll continue to investigate, prosecute, and destroy these criminal networks with all we have.”

The exact criminal charges against Carlos Sanford-Valdez and Kataina Jackson-Keeling include conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. The investigation was led by the DEA, with assistance from the Denver Police Department and other law enforcement agencies. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.

Mandatory facts include:

• Defendant: Carlos Sanford-Valdez (a.k.a. ‘Charlie Vuitton’)
• Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine
• City and State: Denver, Colorado
• Exact Date: May 2022 to April 2023 (conspiracy), July 30, 2022 (flew to Arizona), August 19, 2022 (search warrant), October 11, 2022 (stopped in Arizona), November 14, 2022 (mailed package), November 17, 2022 (search warrant at automotive shop)
• Sentence: Carlos Sanford-Valdez – 240 months and five years of supervised release; Kataina Jackson-Keeling – 120 months
• Dollar Amounts: $2,494 in cash, $37,670 in cash, 60,000 fentanyl pills, 10,102 fentanyl pills, 706 grams of fentanyl pills, 60 grams of fentanyl powder

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime

Jorge Eliecer Cifuentes-Cuero, Narcotics Conspiracy, Florida 2023

Aug 3, 2018

Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime

Charles Clinton Cordle, Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Trafficking, West Virginia 2024

Apr 15, 2024

Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime

Marty Brian Robbins, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Iowa 2018

Aug 14, 2018

Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime

Rey Rivera Ruiz, Drug Trafficking, District of Columbia 2022

May 27, 2022