News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2004
For more information contact:
Jeff Dorschner
303-454-0243

John Sposit Sentenced to Federal Prison for Engaging in a Continuing Criminal Enterprise to Distribute Ecstasy

DENVER – John Suthers, United States Attorney for the District of Colorado and Jeffrey D. Sweetin, Special Agent in Charge of the Denver Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, announced today that JOHN D. SPOSIT, age 29, of Lakewood, Colorado, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Wiley Y. Daniel to serve 144 months (12 years) in federal prison for engaging in a Continuing Criminal Enterprise to distribute the club drug MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy). SPOSIT was remanded into custody.

In August of 2001 a federal grand jury returned four indictments charging 37 people, including SPOSIT, with distributing “club drugs.” Over 55 people were arrested in Colorado, California and elsewhere in connection with the SPOSIT distribution organization as part of a one year investigation called “Operation Green Clover.” This club drug network was thought to be the primary source of Ecstasy in Colorado. SPOSIT pled guilty to engaging in a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, the “Drug Kingpin” statute, on April 16, 2004.

The criminal prosecutions focused on the distribution of club drugs, including MDMA (Ecstasy), Ketamine (commonly known as “Special K”), LSD and marijuana. During the course of the investigation authorities seized approximately 85,000 Ecstasy tablets, 2.5 kilograms of cocaine, 320 pounds and 4100 plants of marijuana, 5 pounds of methamphetamine, 40,000 dosage units of LSD, $1,360,000 in U.S. currency, 13 vehicles and 36 weapons.

“The Drug Enforcement Administration is concerned about the emerging illegal “Club Drug” market,” said Special Agent In Charge Jeffrey D. Sweetin. “This investigation demonstrates DEA’s commitment to disrupting and dismantling drug traffickers and their organizations who profit from the sale of these illicit and harmful drugs.”

Numerous law enforcement agencies participated in the case, which started as several individual investigations and culminated in one comprehensive investigation. Assisting the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Attorney’s Office were: the U.S. Air Force Academy, Peterson Air Force Base, Ft. Carson, Boulder County Drug Task Force, Larimer County Drug Task Force, West Metro Task Force, Front Range Task Force, Colorado Springs and Denver Police Departments, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, and the Boulder District Attorney’s Office.