(COLORADO) — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced that a Pueblo man was sentenced to 180 months in prison for several drug and weapon-related charges on Friday, Aug. 1.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, on May 23, 2023, 52-year-old Dominick Jesus Salazar was arrested outside of his Pueblo hotel room when officers from the Pueblo Police Department (PPD) saw him interacting with several people in a way that indicated the sale of drugs.
During the trial, it was revealed that when PPD officers arrested Salazar, he had a loaded pistol in his pocket, along with money from drug sales. Inside his hotel room, officers found 188 grams of methamphetamine and 82 fentanyl pills. Evidence was found on his phone that he had been dealing drugs out of his hotel room.
The FBI Denver Field Office handled the investigation.
“Pueblo is safer because Mr. Salazar is going to federal prison,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “We’re grateful to the committed men and women of the Pueblo Police Department and federal partners like the FBI who are invested in reducing violent crime and drug dealing in that community.”
Salazar was convicted of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm and ammunition, despite having been previously convicted of a felony.
“When we bring the full force of federal prosecution against drug dealers, we’re not just making arrests—we’re delivering justice with real consequences,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “The FBI stands united with local law enforcement and will use every tool we have to drive violent crime out of our communities.”