DENVER — A dozen people known by law enforcement as "The Family" have been indicted in Denver on organized crime charges, accused of committing robbery, extortion and other felonies to support their methamphetamine addiction, prosecutors said.
A grand jury indicted the suspects on Dec. 2, the Denver District Attorney's Office announced on Monday.
The suspects were led by Sarah Marie Lore, 38, known as "Street Mom," according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors accused Lore of brokering deals over Facebook and maintaining the group's operations through violent attacks, a news release from the district attorney's office said.
Lore was indicted in the case, along with Estevan Barrientos, 23; Sherry Beth Swain, 36; Martynas Calka, 22; Brian Hernandez, 30; Dakota Maurice Hoffman, 27; Misha Nicholas Lamanna, 41; Derrick Leo Mowery, 33; Clifford James Puppe, 36; Kimberly Jean Redd, 30; Matthew David Sanchez, 34; and Christopher Lee Wallman, 39.
The charges in the indictment included: violation of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act; first-degree burglary; theft; criminal impersonation; aggravated motor vehicle theft; identity theft; criminal attempt to commit aggravated robbery; third-degree assault; criminal extortion; second-degree kidnapping and robbery.
Prosecutors said the suspects committed the crimes between April 2019 and October 2020, stealing the identities of more than 240 people through mail theft and stealing more than $550,000 in vehicles, according to the indictment. The suspects also are accused of stealing and selling weapons, bicycles, sports memorabilia, jewelry and electronics.
Lore called the other suspects her "Street Sons," "brothers" and "sisters," and they lived together and shared money, food and clothing, the indictment said. The group kept a rental locker, where they stored a notebook that had instructions about how to commit fraud, prosecutors said.
Investigators recovered numerous stolen items and vehicles during the investigation, including an accordion, several cameras and an Xbox. In one stolen vehicle that was recovered, investigators found selfie photographs taken by Barrientos, the indictment said.
The case was investigated by police from Denver, Broomfield, Arvada, Aurora, Lakewood and Thornton. Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, North Metro Drug Task Force, RAVEN Task Force and the Colorado State Patrol also investigated.
