Adams County man sentenced to 12 years in cocaine trafficking ring

Jan. 21, 2026 (DENVER) – An Adams County district court judge last Thursday sentenced Julio Gutierrez-Hernandez to 12 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for drug crimes related to a cocaine trafficking ring prosecuted by the attorney general’s special prosecutions unit.

A statewide grand jury indicted Gutierrez-Hernandez and 10 other defendants in June 2025 on a total of 28 counts, each for a range of alleged drug distribution-related crimes between August 2024 and May 2025. Gutierrez-Hernandez was charged with seven drug felonies, including possession with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, and distribution of a controlled substance.

“Because of our partnerships with local law enforcement, we were able to break up a criminal drug ring that resulted in the seizure of nine kilograms of cocaine. The man convicted in this case trafficked cocaine in Adams County and the surrounding area, and now he is being held accountable and we’re protecting Coloradans,” said Attorney General Weiser.

The investigation began with an undercover detective’s interactions with the defendant in 2024. According to the indictment, Gutierrez-Hernandez met with the undercover agent twice and sold them a total of 335 grams of cocaine. With these undercover operations and routine police work to monitor additional illicit drug sales, investigators were able to track the sale of 2,000 grams of cocaine by Gutierrez-Hernandez to others.

The investigation was conducted by the North Metro Task Force. The case was prosecuted in Adams County District Court. Other defendants are waiting for trial.

A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation that an individual committed a crime under Colorado laws. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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Media Contact:
Lawrence Pacheco
Chief Communications Officer
(720) 508-6553 office
lawrence.pacheco@coag.gov