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Big-time dealer arrested, cops say

Steve Lynn
Vail, CO Colorado
Eagle County Sheriff's OfficeJosue Roberto Delgado
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GYPSUM ” An illegal immigrant who was arrested on suspicion of cocaine possession in January reentered the country illegally and was arrested for selling cocaine to undercover police Thursday, police said.

Josue Roberto Delgado, 31, of Dotsero, was arrested on suspicion of distribution, conspiracy to distribute and possession of cocaine, all felonies, the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Tuesday.

Delgado sold some of a total of a half ounce of cocaine (some was found on him when he was arrested) to undercover officers Thursday, police said.



People who had bought cocaine from Delgado helped police in their five-year investigation, police said.

Police called Delgado the largest supplier of drugs in western Eagle County, they said.

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“He’s a very big player from everything we understand from the public,” said Lt. Mike McWilliam of the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, who investigated Delgado with the Two Rivers Drug Enforcement Team, a regional task force.

On Jan. 23, Delgado was arrested on suspicion of felony cocaine possession and other charges and was jailed, but Delgado paid his bond with help from family members and was released, police said.

In a letter to the editor protesting a Vail Daily article written about his January arrest, Delgado said that his personal affairs should not be printed unless he were found guilty in court.

“I consider myself an upstanding citizen who has lived in the Vail Valley for 10 long years,” Delgado wrote. “I came to Eagle County to start a new life for me and my family.”

In February, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Delgado to Mexico, police said.

Now, he is being held in Eagle County jail on a $250,000 bond, police said.

Delgado’s deportation to Mexico was frustrating because he was not tried in court for the original charges, police said.

Immigration and customs often does not have enough room in its holding facilities for illegal immigrant detainees, McWilliam said.

“We hope that they stay in our jail and don’t get deported so our justice system can go along,” McWilliam said.

Police did not know how Delgado reentered the United States, they said.

If Delgado entered the country illegally after he were found guilty of cocaine charges, he could face five to 20 years in prison, said Carl Rusnok, spokesman for immigration and customs.

A detective ” whose name is being withheld because the detective is involved with undercover drug investigations ” agreed that Delgado was the largest drug dealer in western Eagle County.

“We have been monitoring and investigating him and finally we were able to get into his little ring,” the detective said.

Also arrested Thursday were Carlos Elias Dominguez, 37, of Dotsero, and William A. Seivert, 49, of Northglenn. Both men were arrested on suspicion of felony possession of cocaine, police said.

Dominguez also was arrested on suspicion of distribution of cocaine and criminal impersonation, both felonies, and had warrants out for previous arrests, police said.

Dominguez and Seivert are being held on $267,000 and $7,500 bonds.

Police could not get a search warrant to search Delgado’s home because of a lack of probable cause, they said.

“He was very difficult to catch because he’s very paranoid in how he deals with people,” McWilliam said.

Police want anyone with information about Delgado’s alleged drug organization to call Eagle County Crime Stoppers at (800) 962-8477 or 328-7007.

Staff Writer Steve Lynn can be reached at 748-2931 or slynn@vaildaily.com.


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