DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that Ariel Nicole Walker, age 31 of Denver, Colorado was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson to serve 180 months (15 years) in federal prison for distribution of heroin resulting in death.  Following her prison sentence, Walker will serve five years of supervised release.  She appeared at the sentencing hearing in custody, and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service at the hearing’s conclusion.  The FBI joined in today’s announcement.

According to the facts contained in Walker’s plea agreement, on May 31, 2018, Walker, an individual with the initials E.N., and an individual with the initials C.T., drove to Westminster to buy heroin from Kayla Pagano, who was prosecuted separately in U.S. District Court.  E.N. paid Walker approximately $80 to purchase the heroin and approximately $40 for arranging the drug deal. Walker then met with Pagano at a Circle K in Westminster where Pagano sold Walker approximately .20 grams of heroin and approximately .20 grams of methamphetamine. E.N. injected some of the heroin and then passed out. Police later found E.N.’s dead body dumped in an alley in Denver. The heroin which caused E.N.’s death was the heroin Walker purchased from Pagano outside the Circle K and then distributed to E.N.  Pagano was subsequently charged with distribution of heroin and methamphetamine, and sentenced to 77 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release.

“Walker sold the drugs to an individual that died of an overdose and then dumped the body in an alley,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn.  “As we have said before, this office will continue to treat harshly those who deal drugs that kill people.” 

"This was an entirely preventable tragedy," said Denver FBI Special Agent in Charge Dean Phillips.  “We will not hesitate to investigate and seek prosecution for those who bring dangerous drugs to our streets."

This case was investigated by the Denver Police Department with assistance from the FBI Denver OCDETF Strike Force.  The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly.

DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced today that Kayla Pagano, age 24, of Westminster, Colorado, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn to serve 77 months (6 years and 5 months) in federal prison for distribution of heroin and methamphetamine.  Following her prison sentence, Pagano will serve 4 years of supervised release.  She appeared at the sentencing hearing in custody, and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service at the hearing’s conclusion. 

According to the facts contained in Pagano’s plea agreement, on May 31, 2018, an individual with the initials E.N., a woman named Ariel Walker and an individual with the initials C.T., drove to Westminster to buy heroin from Kayla Pagano.  E.N. paid Walker approximately $80 to purchase the heroin and approximately $40 for arranging the drug deal. Walker then met with Pagano at a Circle K in Westminster where she sold Walker approximately .20 grams of heroin and approximately .20 grams of methamphetamine.  E.N. used the heroin and then passed out. Police later found E.N.’s dead body dumped in an alley in Denver.  The heroin which caused E.N.’s death was the heroin Walker purchased from Pagano outside the Circle K and then distributed to E.N.  Walker has pleaded guilty to distribution of heroin resulting in death in criminal case number 18-cr-414-RBJ and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16, 2019. 

“I hope drug dealers are getting the message:  when someone dies as a result of your conduct, you will be held accountable and you will do time in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. 

“Today’s sentencing of Kayla Pagano illustrates the FBI’s commitment to investigating those that enable the heroin epidemic and the consequential tragedies resulting from this growing problem,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Dean Phillips. “We extend our gratitude to the Denver Police Department, the DEA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their invaluable investigatory and prosecutorial assistance in this case.”

This case was investigated by the Denver Police Department with assistance from the FBI Denver OCDETF Strike Force.  The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly.

DENVER – Two Metro Denver women charged with heroin distribution resulting in death made court appearances in U.S. District Court in Colorado last week, U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn, FBI Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Dean Phillips and the Denver Police Department announced.  Kayla Pagano, age 24, appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in U.S. District Court in Denver, where she was advised of her rights and the charge pending against her.  Ariel Nicole Walker, age 30, pled guilty last week in U.S. District Court in Denver before Judge R. Brooke Jackson. 

According to the stipulated facts contained in Walker’s plea agreement, on May 31, 2018, Walker went to Civic Center Park looking for someone who could sell her heroin. On that same day, E.N. drove to Civic Center Park looking for someone who could sell her heroin as well. At Civic Center Park, E.N. approached Walker and another party, asking if they could sell her any heroin. Walker asked if E.N. had a car, because that would enable them to meet Walker’s dealer in Westminster, Colorado. E.N. had a vehicle, and the three of them agreed to take it to meet Walker’s dealer at 88th and Garrison in Westminster.

At a gas station in Westminster, Walker met with Kayla Pagano from whom she allegedly purchased heroin. Walker sold some of that heroin to E.N., who injected it. After using the heroin, E.N. passed out and ultimately died in the backseat.

Police later found E.N.’s dead body in an alley in Denver. Based on the autopsy and toxicology results, the Denver Medical Examiner reached the opinion that E.N. died as a result of the toxic effects of heroin.

This case was investigated by the Denver Police Department with support from the FBI.  The defendants are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly.

The charges against Pagano are allegations, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.