Leader of a major drug ring in Weld County arrested and sentenced to over 300 years in prison

GREELEY, Colorado (KKTV) – Last week, the leader of a major drug trafficking operation in Weld County was sentenced to 376 years in prison, the Weld County District Attorney announced.

Jose Arellano-Arredondo, 67, was found guilty in June of over 40 counts of drug offenses and money laundering.

The Weld County Drug Task Force launched an undercover investigation in 2019 that found drugs were being transported from Mexico to Nevada and Arizona and then to Arellano-Arredondo in Greeley, the prosecutor said.

In September 2020, the task force conducted undercover buys before executing search warrants at the suspect's home.

The prosecutor said law enforcement seized thousands of fentanyl pills, several pounds of methamphetamine, several ounces of cocaine and over $100,000 in cash, all of which were related to Arellano-Arredondo's business dealings.

“For years, this man flooded our streets and our community with massive amounts of poison,” said Assistant District Attorney Michael Pirraglia. “The true extent of the lives he destroyed may never be known. He exploited the addictions of others for his personal profit, and we will not tolerate this behavior in our community.”

All rights reserved.