DENVER — A decorated U.S. Army staff sergeant based at Fort Carson in Colorado was arrested on federal drug charges Wednesday and is part of a group of active military members that was working as security at an underground nightclub that was part of a federal operation Sunday morning.
Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez, 28, faces charges related to the alleged distribution of cocaine, according to the complaint filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Army Criminal Investigations Division and Fort Carson officials helped the FBI with the arrest Wednesday.
The complaint states that Orona-Rodriguez appears to hold a leadership/ownership role in a business — Immortal Security, LLC — that provides armed security to nightclubs, including the after-hours, illegal club known as Warike that was raided by multiple federal law enforcement agencies early Sunday morning and led by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
NEW: Arrest made against U.S. Army member for distributing cocaine. & while @FBIDenver didn’t make the explicit connection in the announcement, it comes just days after that huge @DEAROCKYMTNDiv raid in #Colorado @DenverChannel https://t.co/9nNgGN9l53
— Natalie Chuck Denver7 (@NatalieChuck) May 1, 2025
Orona-Rodriguez was one of approximately 17 active-duty service members present at the club when the operation took place. He appeared in federal court Friday afternoon and was charged with distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Each count carries up to 20 years in prison.
Orona-Rodriguez allegedly sold cocaine to an undercover DEA agent during the week of April 21 and has a history of text messages that outlines months of suspected cocaine trafficking. The text messages — obtained through a search warrant — date back to Sept. 16, 2024. He is also suspected of illegally trafficking firearms, including high-capacity magazines to undocumented immigrants, according to the complaint. However, no weapons charges were filed in court on Thursday.
Immortal Security employs active and former military service members, according to the complaint. It adds that the DEA believes that the company is involved in drug distribution.
The complaint notes that Orona-Rodriguez received a form from a commanding officer and was told that Immortal Security was off limits to Armed Forces members. In March, he was told that "you are prohibited in engaging in off-duty employment without the approval of the Battalion Commander."
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"We are aware the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of Army CID, took a Fort Carson Soldier into custody," a Fort Carson official said in a statement Thursday. "We will continue to cooperate with all agencies involved."
Orona-Rodriguez is on active duty, assigned to the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. He's served more than eight years and has received numerous awards, according to the official. He does not have any prior felony convictions.
Denver7 Investigates was on the scene at around 3 a.m. when more than 300 law enforcement officers from 10 federal agencies raided the club. According to the DEA, more than 100 people were detained at the underground club allegedly linked to drug trafficking, prostitution and violence. The drugs found were linked to the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel, according to sources.
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The owner of the building, Mike Moon, said he was ‘shocked’ after learning the property was allegedly used as an illegal nightclub.
“I've never even seen a lot of trash in the parking lot to even suspect that anything like an after-hours nightclub is going on. So, it's pretty shocking,” Mike Moon, the owner of the property, said.
Orona-Rodriguez will have another hearing at 10 a.m. on May 6.
