United States Drug Enforcement Administration

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A large-scale gang enforcement operation, dubbed “Operation Triple Beam Colorado,” in which a number of Colorado law enforcement agencies partnered with the U.S. Marshals Service from May 15 through August 10, led to the arrest of 156 people.

OTB Colorado saw the participation of the Drug Enforcement Administration, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Springs Police Department, Colorado Department of Corrections, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, Pueblo Police Department, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Attorney’s Office, all working on the U.S. Marshals Service- led operation aimed at providing communities with immediate relief from gang-related violence by targeting fugitive gang members and the organizations responsible for committing violent crimes.

The District of Colorado’s U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force specifically targets violent offenders with active local, state and federal arrest warrants. The task force is composed of law enforcement agencies located in Colorado that choose to participate in apprehending violent offenders in our communities.

“This joint operation had the added effect of strengthening the relationship among our local, state and federal law enforcement counterparts,” said David Weaver, U.S. Marshal for the District of Colorado. “The U.S. Marshals provided multiple resources to include manpower, funds and essential equipment to assist local, state and federal partners in this operation.”

Since its inception in 2010, Operation Triple Beam has been conducted 50 times nationwide, resulting in more than 8,000 arrests and the seizure of more than 1,800 illegal firearms.

OTB Colorado Highlights

• Since the start of OTB Colorado, more than 156 fugitives have been arrested
• 26 firearms were seized to include 10 fully automatic rifles
• 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine were seized
• 739 grams of cocaine were seized
• Six stolen vehicles were recovered
• $89,087 in illicit funds were recovered

OTB Colorado Notable Arrests

• Lester Bell, Gangster Disciple, homicide: Arrested by U.S. Marshals Colorado Violent Offender Task Force on May 15, in Boulder County. Bell was wanted for a cold case gang related murder that occurred in the summer of 2000 during a robbery where the victim was beaten to death with a baseball bat.

• Joshua Pacheco, East Side Dukes/ dangerous drugs: U.S. Marshals Colorado Violent Offender Task Force on May 17 in Pueblo County. Pacheco is an East Side Dukes member wanted for distribution of controlled substances in Pueblo County. Pacheco was armed with a handgun at time of arrest. Arrest led to search warrant and seizure of five firearms, 23.6 grams of methamphetamine, 30.7 grams of black tar heroin, and the recovery of one stolen vehicle. Pacheco was subsequently charged federally for felon in possession of a firearm.

• Christopher Bynum, capital murder: Arrested by U.S. Marshals Colorado Violent Offender Task Force in Denver on June 1. Wanted for capital murder out of Arkansas for murder related to drug trafficking, Bynum was armed at time of arrest in Colorado, which led to an additional search warrant resulting in the seizure of cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and three firearms.

OTB Colorado Participating Agencies

El Paso County Sheriff’s Office
Colorado Springs Police Department
Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office Pueblo Police Department
Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Colorado Department of Corrections
Drug Enforcement Administration
Homeland Security
United States Attorney’s Office
U.S.  Marshals Service