An analysis by the Aspen Daily News of affidavits
filed with the cases linked to “The Boys” found specified ties to the
drug organization in 11 of the 29 adult arrests whose files are open to
the public.
Two men are believed to be members of The Boys. One is believed to be a
cousin. Five are dealers suspected of buying directly from The Boys.
One is a suspected drug runner. Two others have apparent ties to the
runner.
An affidavit said they might be tied to other TRIDENT cases, too, but it
does not say which cases those are, and Garfield County Sheriff Lou
Vallario declined to explain how the cases are connected.
Assistant District Attorney Jeff Cheney also declined to comment on the
alleged ties, which are being disputed by several suspects and their
lawyers.
“I’m not going to play verbal tennis with the defense bar on the
strength of our cases,” said Cheney. “They are what they are. The
affidavits are filed.”
‘The Boys’ suspects
In the most dramatic aspect of the investigation, TRIDENT officers
descended on an alleged cocaine deal as it was taking place on March 21
in the parking lot of Carbondale’s Family Dollar while the confidential
informant waited nearby.
That bust netted two supposed members of The Boys: Ramon Alonso
Escandon Baca, 22, of Carbondale, and Eduardo Lopez Garcia, 22, of
Glenwood Springs. Investigators said the pair had five bindles of
cocaine and about $5,000 between them and were orchestrating a deal
with Vaughn Steven Seery, 24, of Glenwood Springs, a suspected
distributor.
Investigators said they watched from about 50 yards away and listened
to the informant on a wireless microphone until he gave officers the
go-ahead for a “takedown team” to surround the dealers’ SUV. Seery
would go on to make more deals with undercover officers, becoming their
unwitting accomplice.
In a separate case, investigators arrested Angel Robert Martinez, 18,
of Glenwood Springs. Martinez was arrested on suspicion of selling
cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms to undercover officers in February
with the help of the confidential informant. Investigators said
Martinez is the cousin of Michael Martinez, a suspected member of The
Boys.
Michael Martinez is among six suspects who have not been arrested. It
was not clear how many of them were considered members of The Boys.
Ties to ‘The Boys’
Eight other suspects are accused of ties to The Boys. Eric Lee
Wesseling, 30, of Glenwood Springs, is accused of being a runner for
the drug ring and of conspiring with Brandi Malee Hendren, 29, of
Glenwood Springs, to distribute meth in January.
Wesseling’s arrest was apparently a pivotal point in the investigation.
Investigators said “it became clear that Wesseling was involved in a
possible drug traffic organization … that was more convoluted than what
was originally stated or believed.”
An acquaintance of Wesseling, Shawn Johnson, 39, of Carbondale, is
accused of threatening the informant with a gun on a Glenwood street
after suspecting he was working with police.
“Give me a reason to pull the trigger,” Johnson allegedly shouted, as he pointed a gun at the informant near the Ramada Inn.
Five other men are accused of being dealers of meth or cocaine under
The Boys. Among them are William Gene Cline, 54, of Glenwood Springs,
and Gary Leamon McDonald, 56, of Carbondale. They are accused of
collaborating in a meth operation, adding their own “cut” and selling
the drugs for a profit.
dfrey@aspendailynews.com
