Denver Man Sentenced To 180 Months In Federal Prison on Drug Distribution and Firearms Charges

DENVER - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado announces that Bryan Hjelmstad, 32, Denver, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute greater than 500 grams of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to the plea agreement, Hjelmstad was encountered by police at a Westminster hotel after employees complained that Hjelmstad was on drugs and running through the hotel. Police later found over 700 grams of cocaine, 300 grams of methamphetamine, 30 grams of fentanyl, 19 grams of heroin, 237 grams of Xanax, 20 grams of MDMA, 13 grams of ketamine, three loaded firearms, multiple boxes of ammunition, and over $10,000 in cash in his hotel room.

Six days later, police received a call from a Denver hotel after employees complained that the defendant was running through the halls with a shopping bag full of what appeared to be a large amount of narcotics. Hjelmstad fled before police arrived, but they located the shopping bag with 1.468 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden under a vehicle in Hjelmstad's direction of flight. Police also found over 40 grams of fentanyl pills, four additional firearms, and several hundred dollars in cash in his room. Hjelmstad was arrested shortly after fleeing the second hotel.

"Mr. Hjelmstad was essentially daring anyone to hold him accountable, and now we have," said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. "The community is safer now that this repeat offender who refused to stop committing very serious crimes will be off of our streets for a long time."

"A convicted felon on parole was caught with illegal firearms and narcotics, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of our community. Through a coordinated effort with the Westminster and Denver Police Departments, we leveraged federal authorities to remove a dangerous offender from our streets and send him to prison," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski. "Let this serve as a clear message: Those who illegally possess firearms, traffic drugs, and contribute to violence in our communities will be identified, investigated, and prosecuted. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to take guns, drugs, and violent offenders off the street and make our neighborhoods safer."

United States District Judge Daniel D. Domenico presided over the sentencing.

The FBI Denver Field Office, the Westminster Police Department, and the Denver Police Department handled the investigation.

The Violent Crime Section of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado handled the investigation.

Case Number: 25-cr-129-DDD