Denver Police Arrest Suspects in Fentanyl Pill-Making Operation

Denver Police Arrest Suspects in Fentanyl Pill-Making Operation

Published on July 03, 2024

Denver - Wednesday, July 3, 2024 - The Denver Police Department today announces arrests resulting from a lengthy, complex investigation into the manufacturing of fentanyl pills and illegal narcotics distribution.

On May 1, 2024, a months-long investigation by the Denver Police Department Major Narcotics Unit, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, resulted in a search warrant operation at a house in the 1800 block of South Olathe Street in Aurora. The investigation revealed a fentanyl pill-making operation, and the search on May 1 resulted in the recovery of five pill-making presses, other equipment, suspected fentanyl and other narcotics, and firearms. Investigators estimate the operation was capable of producing approximately 20,000 pills per day, though the actual number of fentanyl pills produced by the operation is unknown.

When the search warrant was executed, four adults and three children were inside the home. Two of those individuals, 33-year-old Tashon Roberts and 34-year-old Coleman Phillips, were arrested for outstanding warrants not directly related to the search warrant.

Over the past nine weeks, DPD's Major Narcotics Unit detectives and Denver Police Crime Laboratory personnel have continued the investigation and forensic examination of recovered evidence. This extensive work has resulted in the arrests of the following three suspects:

Tashon Roberts, arrested on July 2, 2024, for investigation of:

• 18-18-405 (I)(2)(a)(l)(D) Possession with Intent - Fentanyl - more than 50 grams
• 18-18-405 (l)(2)(a)(l)(D) Unlawful Manufacturing a Controlled Substance - Fentanyl - more than 50 grams
• 18-18-405 (1)(2)(a)(l)(D) Conspiracy Controlled Substance Fentanyl more than 50 grams
• 18-18-407 (I) (b) Special Offender - Conspiracy - Pattern of Sale
• 18-18-407 (I) (a) Special Offender - Source of Income
• 18-18-407 (I) (d) (II) Special Offender - Firearm
• 18-18-407 (I) (h) Special Offender - Fentanyl Pill Press
• 18-6-401 (I) (c) (I) Child Abuse - Manufacturing Controlled Substance
• 18-6-401 (1) (c) (I) Child Abuse - Manufacturing Controlled Substance
• 18-6-401 (I) (c) (I) Child Abuse - Manufacturing Controlled Substance
• 18-6-401 (I) (a) (7) (a) (III) Child Abuse SBI Knowingly or Recklessly

Coleman Phillips, arrested on June 20, 2024, for investigation of:

• 18-18-405 (1)(2)(a)(l)(D) Possession with Intent - Fentanyl - more than 50 grams
• 18-18-405 (I)(2)(a)(l)(D) Unlawful Manufacturing a Controlled Substance - Fentanyl more than 50 grams
• 18·18-405 (1)(2)(a)(l)(D) Conspiracy Controlled Substance - Fentanyl - more than 50 grams
• 18-18-407 (I) (a) Special Offender - Source of Income
• 18-18-407 (I) (d) (JI) Special Offender - Firearm
• 18-18-407 (I) (h) Special Offender - Fentanyl Pill Press
• 18-6-401 (1) (c) (I) Child Abuse - Manufacturing Controlled Substance
• 18-6-40 I (I) (c) (I) Child Abuse - Manufacturing Controlled Substance
• 18·6-401 (I) (c) (I) Child Abuse - Manufacturing Controlled Substance
• 18-6-401 (I) (a) (7) (a) (III) Child Abuse SBI Knowingly or Recklessly

Imani Hale, 28 years-old, arrested on July 2, 2024, for investigation of:

• 18-18-405 (1)(2)(a)(l)(D) Possession with Intent - Fentanyl- more than 50 grams
• 18-18-405 (1)(2)(a)(l)(D) Unlawful Manufacturing a Controlled Substance - Fentanyl - more than 50 grams
• 18-18-405 (1)(2)(a)(l)(D) Conspiracy Controlled Substance - Fentanyl - more than 50 grams
• 18-18-407 (1) (d) (II) Special Offender - Firearm
• 18-18-407 (1) (h) Special Offender - Fentanyl Pill Press
• 18-6-401 (1) (c) (I) Child Abuse - Manufacturing Controlled Substance
• 18-6-401 (1) (c) (I) Child Abuse - Manufacturing Controlled Substance
• 18-6-401 (1) (c) (I) Child Abuse - Manufacturing Controlled Substance
• 18-6-401 (1) (a) (7) (a) (111) Child Abuse - SBI - Knowingly or Recklessly

The three children who were in the home when the search warrant was executed on May 1, 2024, were four years-old and younger. One of those children subsequently tested positive for fentanyl exposure, which resulted in the Child Abuse - SBI - Knowingly or Recklessly charge for each of the three arrestees. The presence of the three children in the home where drugs were being manufactured resulted in the three counts of Child Abuse - Manufacturing Controlled Substance for each of the three arrestees.

According to data from the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, in Denver in 2023, there were 598 deaths involving drugs, and 389 of those deaths involved fentanyl.

"The warning 'One Pill Can Kill' is absolutely true, and the dismantling of this fentanyl pill-making operation has potentially saved lives by ending a significant supply of fentanyl pills into our community," said Denver Chief of Police Ron Thomas. "Our investigators did an incredible job uncovering the operation and those behind it, and we will continue aggressively pursuing anyone manufacturing or dealing illicit narcotics in Denver."

The Denver Police Department is committed to disrupting the manufacturing and distribution of illicit narcotics and holding accountable those causing this harm in our community. DPD encourages anyone with information about narcotics operations and/or dealers to share tips through Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

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