Federal authorities have charged three Denver residents—Felicia Ortiviz, 36, Joe Elijo Herrera, 51, and Alina Serena Ochoa-Luna, 33—in connection with the distribution of fentanyl that resulted in a death. The indictment was issued by a federal grand jury.
All three individuals are accused of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. In addition, Ochoa-Luna faces an extra charge of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Ortiviz is also charged with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and with distributing fentanyl to a person under twenty-one years old.
Court records state that Herrera began selling “blues,” which are counterfeit M/30 pills containing illicit fentanyl, to the victim shortly after the victim’s nineteenth birthday in September 2023. Herrera continued supplying these pills until late January 2024, when Ortiviz started selling them directly to the victim. On February 13, 2024, Ochoa-Luna delivered blues to Ortiviz at the residence shared by Ortiviz and Herrera. That night, Ortiviz distributed blues to the victim at their home. The victim later returned to his apartment in a student housing complex and died soon after due to toxic effects from fentanyl.
“The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
If found guilty at trial, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and could receive up to life in prison.
The investigation is being led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Denver Police Department. The case is prosecuted by the Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
CASE NUMBER: 25-cr-00327-WJM
