In October of 2021, Pueblo police detectives were investigation an anonymous tip regarding a large amount of drugs being sold by 44 year-old, Kenneth Baca, of Pueblo.   

Officers were able set-up surveillance in a parking lot of a motel and observed Baca pull into the parking lot in a truck with no front license plate, expired registration, and officers knew Baca didn’t have a valid driver’s license. Officers conducted a traffic stop and contacted Baca. Given his history, an officer informed Baca that he would be patted down for weapons. Baca replied that he had a pistol in his right pants pocket. Baca was immediately placed into custody and the firearm was retrieved from his pants. At the time Baca possessed the firearm and ammunition, he was on supervised release after serving time in prison for a previous felon in possession conviction. 

A search of the truck found a backpack containing methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, a digital scale, $1,746 in U.S. currency, a notebook that appeared to be a drug ledger, and a wallet containing Baca’s identification cards. In the motel room registered to Baca, officers recovered fentanyl, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, a suspected drug ledger, and $1,018 in U.S. currency. 

Judge Regina M. Rodriguez sentenced the defendant on February 1, 2023, to 190 months in federal prison after he plead guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm.  

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Denver Division and the Pueblo Police Department. Prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Warhola and the Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

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