Source: Office of United States Attorneys
DURANGO – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Blas Villa, 41, of Monte Vista, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
According to the plea agreement and information presented at sentencing, Villa is a well-known drug dealer in the San Luis Valley. Villa possessed close to a pound of pure methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills over three incidents in 2023. In August 2023, Villa and an associate were found at a home in Monte Vista with significant amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine, a handgun, five cell phones, a scale with drug residue, and $13,400 in cash. A search of Villa’s phone revealed photos of Villa posing with firearms, as well as many photos of fentanyl pills associated with a pill counting app. Villa was originally charged in state court and bonded out of custody. While on bond, Villa was arrested again for possessing heroin and methamphetamine in November 2023. Villa bonded out of state custody again. In December 2023, law enforcement pulled over a car driven by Villa and found over 2,500 fentanyl pills and distribution amounts of methamphetamine. Prior to this case, Villa had fifteen prior convictions, including several felonies.
“Mr. Villa is a serial offender,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell. “I thank our law enforcement partners for removing him and his deadly wares from the San Luis Valley.”
“Villa consistently brought harm and poison to Colorado, and with his sentencing the state is that much safer,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. “The men and women of DEA and our law enforcement partners will continue to take down people and organizations causing harm to Coloradans and those around the country.”
“The removal of these dangerous drugs is a testament to the tireless efforts of the Monte Vista Police Department, specifically the dedicated work of our Detective, in collaboration with key federal partners,” said Interim Monte Vista Police Chief Tyler Harford. “This operation represents a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. We remain committed to addressing this issue and protecting our residents.”
United States District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the sentencing in Durango, Colorado. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Monte Vista Police Department handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey K. Graves handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 24-cr-00046-GPG-JMC