Northern Colorado Couple Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution Linked to Death of a Minor

Source: US FBI

DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Destiny Salazar, age 22, and Gabriel Orozco, age 23, both of Weld County, Colorado, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and to distribution of fentanyl.

According to the plea agreements, Salazar and Orozco used cellphones, Facebook, and email to sell fentanyl pills to a variety of customers. They referred to the pills as “blues,” “30s,” “percs,” “perxs,” and “yerks” on Facebook. They also used their various devices and accounts interchangeably, with Orozco sometimes responding for Salazar on her account.

The plea agreements further state that the defendants engaged in a series of transactions with an individual on July 24th, 2021, who purchased six pills in total from Salazar and Orozco. This individual shared the pills with a minor female, who died shortly thereafter as a result of fentanyl intoxication. Both defendants and the individual who purchased the pills were aware they contained fentanyl.

Salazar and Orozco continued to conspire and distribute fentanyl through at least March 2022, when they were arrested on burglary charges.  At the time of their arrest, they possessed distribution quantities of fentanyl, according to the plea agreements.

United States District Court Senior Judge John L. Kane presided over the hearing.

Salazar will be sentenced on October 21st, 2025, and Orozco will be sentenced on October 23rd, 2025.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Greeley Police Department, Brighton Police Department, Weld County District Attorney’s Office, and the Weld County Drug Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brad Giles.

Case Number: 24-cr-310-JLK