DENVER - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado announces that Mario Rocha, 27, Rocky Ford, Colorado, pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute them, one count of knowingly being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, and possession of an unregistered short-barreled shotgun.

According to the plea agreement, in August 2025, investigators learned that Rocha was distributing large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine out of his Rocky Ford home and that he was in possession of numerous firearms. After obtaining a search warrant for his residence, FBI agents recovered 1169.3 grams of cocaine, 4742.3 grams of fentanyl (approximately 45,000 individual pills) and 1,236 grams of methamphetamine, all of which Rocha possessed with the intent to distribute. Agents also found a large amount of United States currency, and seventeen firearms which included a short-barreled shotgun and a short-barreled rifle in Rocha's home.

Chief United States District Judge Philip A. Brimmer presided over the hearing. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 29, 2026.

The FBI Denver Field Office and the Rocky Ford Police Department handled the investigation.

The Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado handled the prosecution.

Case Number: 25-cr-00265-PAB