Six Individuals Indicted By Federal Grand Jury For Operating Large-Scale Operation To Sell Marijuana Out-of-State

 Group allegedly received nearly $1 million in revenue from out-of-state customers in single year

DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that a federal grand jury in Denver has returned a 53-count indictment charging six Metro Denver residents with marijuana possession, distribution, money laundering and money laundering concealment.  Of the six individuals charged, five have been arrested and one is a fugitive from justice.  The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the ATF joined in today’s announcement.

According to the Indictment, as well as details from other court documents, the defendants would buy marijuana at a Colorado marijuana dispensary using medical marijuana cards.  They would then use the U.S. Mail to send the marijuana to customers throughout the United States who ordered the marijuana using social media and other forms of communication. 

During a one-year period, the defendants purchased more than $665,000 worth of marijuana from the dispensary and received more than $923,000 in deposits from out-of-state customers. 

USPIS agents executed arrests on October 28, 2020, apprehending 5 of the 6 defendants.  During searches conducted subsequent to arrests, law enforcement recovered approximately $10,000 in cash, seven firearms (in addition to five firearms seized earlier in the investigation), 1.5 kilograms of cocaine and a half-pound of methamphetamine. 

Those indicted include:

• Delano Monroe of Aurora
• Solomon Chambers of Thornton
• Alexis Monroe of Aurora
• Joshua Sampson of Aurora
• Michael Waterton of Highlands Ranch (fugitive)
• Ashley Montgomery of Denver

If convicted, the defendants face a possible sentence of not more than 20 years per count.

Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Phillips is prosecuting the case. The USPIS and the ATF is conducting the investigation.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.  Related court documents can be found on PACER.  The case number is 20-cr-343. 

The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.