Five People Charged with Fentanyl Distribution Connected to Mesa County Jail Inmate’s Death

GRAND JUNCTION – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces a federal grand jury has returned indictments charging Jeremiah Wesley Robinson, age 42; Efrain Velez, age 34; Vanessa Vasquez, age 33; Anna Munday, age 28; and Karlie Locke, age 29, with distribution of fentanyl that resulted in the death of an inmate in the Mesa County jail on May 21, 2022.

According to the two recently unsealed indictments:

• Jeremiah Robinson is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl resulting in death and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death.
• Efrain Velez is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute  methamphetamine and fentanyl resulting in death and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
• Vanessa Vasquez is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl resulting in death, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death, and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
• Anna Munday is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl resulting in death, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death, and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
• Karlie Locke is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death

All counts carry a mandatory minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison.

The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Rocky Mountain Division and the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office are investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorneys J.D. Rowell and Jeffrey Graves are handling the prosecution.

CASE NUMBERS: 22-cr-00309 and 22-cr-00232