Pueblo Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Gun and Drug Case

Prosecutors said the repeat felon was caught in a 2023 vehicle search that uncovered machine guns, fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, plus cash.

Overview

Joshua Pacheco, 33, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing a machine gun, possessing fentanyl and methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Law enforcement reported seizing numerous firearms, including machine guns, approximately 351 grams of fentanyl pills, 621 grams of methamphetamine, and about $2,000 during the October 20, 2023 search.
Pacheco was on federal supervised release at the time following a prior conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon.
United States District Judge S. Kato Crews imposed the sentence after an investigation by ATF and the FBI’s Southern Colorado Safe Streets Task Force and a prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Violent Crimes and Immigration Enforcement Section.
Officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ATF, and FBI said the outcome removes a dangerous offender from the community and underscores their focus on armed drug traffickers.