CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story should have have identified Jeffrey Sweetin as Special Agent in Charge of the Denver Field Division for the Drug Enforcement Administration. Also, the story should have said that Mike Turner is a spokesman for the DEA. The error has been corrected.

The 34 people indicted in an alleged Front Range drug-trafficking ring Monday included four women; whites, blacks, Asians, and Hispanics; at least two who live in million-dollar houses; and 13 suspected illegal residents.

Thirty of the 34 have been arrested, and warrants are out for the other four. Jeffco sheriff's spokeswoman Jacki Kelly said this afternoon that those four remain at large.

Jefferson County District Attorney spokeswoman Pam Russell today identified the four suspects still at large as Eloy Flores-Hernandez, 40; Maria Esparza-Arreloa, 30; Michael Kelly, 44; and Robert Hardy, 34.

She said her office is confident that two of the four can be arrested within a month, but is unsure about the other two.

Jefferson County prosecutors said $4 million of cocaine was distributed each month in homes and other locations in Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Thornton, Arvada, Aurora, Denver, Fort Collins, Highlands Ranch and unincorporated Jefferson County.

The West Metro Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration started the operation in September, and it was ready for the grand jury in April.

Dubbed Operation Shoestring to reflect shrinking budgets for drug enforcement, the investigation effectively disabled the ring, which also had brought large amounts of marijuana to the area, said Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink.

A grand jury returned 141 counts.

Among those indicted was Terrie Spieker, owner of a $1.2 million home in Highlands Ranch. Prosecutors allege that she bought cocaine Feb. 3, Super Bowl Sunday, in the parking lot of the Red Robin restaurant at 63 W. Centennial Blvd.

Peter Bidgood, charged with intent to distribute cocaine, lives in Greeley in a home worth "about $2 million," said Mike Turner, spokesman for the DEA.

"This gives you an idea of the tentacles of this organization," said Jeffrey Sweetin, Special Agent in Charge of the Denver Field Division for the Drug Enforcement Administration. "What it also says is that a gated community won't do everything for you. If you leave that gated community, you may be parked next to a cocaine dealer at Red Robin on Super Bowl Sunday."

The alleged 13 highest-level members of the drug ring were charged with racketeering, violation of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, a Class 2 felony, in addition to other charges.

According to the indictment, Martin Vega-Beleta was the highest-ranking member of the organization and the source of cocaine that came from Mexico to the Phoenix area and then to Colorado.

His girlfriend, Norma Yudith Talabera-Espinoza, served as his lieutenant, and Erick Fernando Chaparro-Franco is suspected of being the drug runner.

Vega-Beleta would travel back and forth between Denver and the Phoenix area, transporting money for the delivery of cocaine and marijuana to Denver, authorities said.

At the next level were the high-volume dealers, purchasing cocaine in kilogram quantities and distributing it to the people below them, the indictment said. Those alleged high-level dealers included Sergio Flores-Hernandez, Jaime Esparaza-Arreola, Sergio Munoz-Maltes and Juan Aguilar-Martinez.

Those indicted for allegedly purchasing large quantities, then breaking them down to sell by the ounce, were Alejandro Banuelos-Serna and his girlfriend, Mirella DiFranco, Federico Banuelos and Samuel Martinez.

The lower-level people indicted are accused of dealing at several locations along the Front Range, including the Denver Public Library at 2401 Welton St.; Colorado Mills shopping mall, 14500 W. Colfax Ave.; and El Ballezano boot store at West First Avenue and Federal Boulevard.

The $4 million in cocaine brought to metro Denver each month amounted to about 110 pounds a month.

Agents seized about 13 pounds of cocaine with a street value of $500,000 and 25 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of $10,000.

They also seized $500,000 in cash and six handguns.

According to the indictment: "Members of the enterprise do not always know all of the other members of the enterprise, but all members of the enterprise know that there are other people involved in the various levels of sale/distribution process.

"Knowledge of the various members is intentionally limited in the enterprise to protect the enterprise from law enforcement."

Prosecutors said members of the ring often used cell phones and text messages to communicate, and their conversations were "disguised by the use of code and vague terminology to further frustrate law enforcement."

"In general, the quantities identified in this indictment are quantities that will be used for resale and not just for personal use," the indictment states.

Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey credited the West Metro Drug Task Force, the DEA and his prosecutors for making it "easy for the grand jury to do their job" and stopping this stream of drugs.

herbaught@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5623

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