Man sentenced to 48 years for attempting to traffic 100K fentanyl pills to Colorado

WELD COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) – A Denver man was sentenced to 48 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempting to traffic illegal drugs to Weld County, according to the 19th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

The DA said Colorado State Troopers pulled over Miguel Gutierrez-Heredia in Fruita on March 26, 2024, for going 93 mph in a 75 mph speed zone.

At the time of the traffic stop, the DA says authorities were tracking his whereabouts in connection with a drug trafficking investigation. Investigators concluded that Gutierrez-Heredia had gone to California to pick up narcotics that would eventually be distributed in Denver and Northern Colorado.

During the traffic stop, authorities reportedly found nearly 100,000 fentanyl pills, nearly five pounds of cocaine, and more than two and a half pounds of methamphetamine in Gutierrez-Heredia’s vehicle.

Gutierrez-Heredia pled guilty in May to one count of conspiracy to sell or distribute fentanyl – more than 50 grams, one count of special offender – introducing or importing to the state of Colorado, and one count of possession with intent to sell or distribute methamphetamine – more than 14 grams but less than 225 grams.

“At the time of this interception, this was one of the biggest fentanyl busts in the state,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Pirraglia said.

District Attorney Pirraglia and Deputy District Attorney Katherine Fitzgerald prosecuted this case. Weld County District Court Judge Vincente Vigil handed down the sentence.

Copyright 2025 KKTV. All rights reserved.