Albert Gene Vargas had several outstanding warrants when he was pulled over by Castle Rock Police
67 -year-old Albert Gene Vargas of Fort Collins has been sentenced to 20 years in prison following a major drug and weapons bust in Castle Rock. Vargas was arrested on August 14, 2021, at Castle Rock Parkway and Promenade Parkway, after a flock camera discovered stolen plates on his car.
Upon being pulled over by Castle Rock Police, Vargas told deputies he was a middleman for “some cartel dudes.” He also admitted having a handgun in his car- despite being a convicted felon. A subsequent search uncovered large quantities of fentanyl, hallucinogens, and more than 450 grams of methamphetamine, along with drug paraphernalia. Vargas also had multiple outstanding warrants at the time of his arrest- including a felony drug charge in Denver.
Vargas plead guilty to a class one drug felony as a special offender, and felony possession of a weapon by a previous offender.
“This is a textbook example of the excellent partnership that exists between the Castle Rock Police Department and the DA’s Office,” said Operations Commander Sam Varela. “When you combine exceptional street-level police work with an effective prosecution team, it leads to a safer Castle Rock community.”
Deputy District Attorney Joe Ratner emphasized the significance of the sentence. “If you’re a felon with a gun and a bag full of meth, Douglas County is the wrong place to test your luck. Thanks to the great work of the CRPD, Mr. Vargas will have two decades to reflect on that.”
District Attorney George Brauchler said Vargas’ sentence should serve as a warning to others considering criminal activity in Douglas County. “I will continue to emphasize to those who are incapable or unwilling to follow our laws that Douglas County is inhospitable to you. How long would it have taken this armed convicted felon and claimed middleman in a stolen car to drive around our community? Best guess: less than 20 years.”