Jose Carlos Garcia-Montero, Conspiracy to Cultivate Marijuana, Colorado 2020
Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Cultivate Over 100 Marijuana Plants
Jose Carlos Garcia-Montero, a 34-year-old Cuban national and lawful permanent resident of El Paso County, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cultivate more than 100 marijuana plants in Denver, Colorado. The Denver Division of the DEA joined in the announcement.
Garcia-Montero was part of an organization that purchased or rented residential properties in Colorado, established marijuana grows, and helped others with harvesting and preparing marijuana. Once cultivated, Garcia-Montero and others would then coordinate the distribution of the processed marijuana to out-of-state buyers.
On March 1, 2017, law enforcement stopped Garcia-Montero's vehicle in Missouri, finding $176,600 in the vehicle's spare tire. It was determined that the currency was proceeds from the sale of marijuana obtained through this conspiracy.
Following the car stop, in March and May of 2017, DEA agents executed search warrants at properties where Garcia-Montero was assisting, financially and physically, in cultivating marijuana grows for the eventual sale of processed marijuana. The searches included:
- On May 23, 2017, agents executed a search warrant in Yoder, Colorado. Agents found 171 marijuana plants.
- On March 3, 2017, agents executed a search warrant in Peyton, Colorado. Agents found 76 marijuana plants and 38 kilograms of processed marijuana.
The guilty plea was entered before U.S. District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore on August 13, 2020. Garcia-Montero is one of seven individuals who have been charged with this conspiracy, and is the fifth to plead guilty. He was charged by indictment on May 23, 2019 and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30, 2020.
This case was investigated by the Colorado Springs Resident Agency of the Denver Division of the DEA. Local law enforcement, including the El Paso County SWAT team and the Colorado Springs Police Department, assisted with the execution of the search warrants. The defendant is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garreth Winstead and Brian M. Dunn.
Garcia-Montero's guilty plea to conspiracy to cultivate more than 100 marijuana plants carries significant penalties. The exact sentence will be determined by the court after the sentencing hearing on October 30, 2020. Meanwhile, Garcia-Montero remains in custody awaiting sentencing.
Key Facts
- State: Colorado
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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