AURORA, Colo. — Investigators arrested three suspects on suspicion of manufacturing fentanyl after a raid on an operation in May at a house in Aurora, the Denver Police Department said Wednesday.
The raid on May 1 of the house in the 1800 block of South Olathe Street, southwest of East Mexico Avenue and South Buckley Road, revealed a large-scale fentanyl operation. Denver Police said the house was the target of a monthslong drug investigation. Police and federal agencies recovered five pill-making presses, equipment, suspected fentanyl, other narcotics and firearms.
Tashon Roberts, 33; Coleman Phillips, 34, and Imani Hale, 28, were all charged with multiple counts of child abuse along with special offender, possession and conspiracy charges. Philips was arrested June 20, and Roberts and Hale were arrested July 2.
> The video above aired on May 1: Police take down 'large-scale' fentanyl operation in Aurora home
For the past nine weeks, Denver Police's Major Narcotics Unit and Crime Laboratory investigated evidence recovered from the Aurora home. Investigators estimated that the operation was capable of producing 20,000 pills per day, but the number of fentanyl pills produced by the operation was unknown.
Four adults and three children were inside the home when police executed the search warrant in May. Roberts and Phillips were arrested for outstanding warrants that were not directly related to the search warrant.
One of the children tested positive for fentanyl exposure, and the presence of the three children in the home where the drugs were being made resulted in the charges of child abuse.
According to data from the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, in 2023, there were 598 deaths involving drugs and 389 of those deaths involved fentanyl.
“The warning ‘One Pill Can Kill’ is absolutely true, and the dismantling of this fentanyl pill-making operation has potentially saved lives by ending a significant supply of fentanyl pills into our community,” said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas.
All three suspects are charged with:
- Possession with intent - fentanyl - more than 50 grams
- Unlawful manufacturing a controlled substance - fentanyl - more than 50 grams
- Conspiracy controlled substance fentanyl more than 50 grams
- Special offender - firearm
- Special offender - fentanyl pill press
- 3 counts of child abuse - manufacturing controlled substance
- Child abuse SBI knowingly or recklessly
Roberts and Phillips also face a charge of special offender - source of income, and Roberts faces a charge of special offender - conspiracy - pattern of sale.
Anyone with information about narcotics operations or dealers can share tips through Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
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