A Fort Carson soldier, Staff Sgt. Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez, was arrested on federal drug charges, including distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, as well as conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The arrest took place on Wednesday (April 30) following a raid at an illegal nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, known as Warike. The operation was part of a larger investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Orona-Rodriguez allegedly sold cocaine to an undercover DEA agent during the week of April 21. Investigators found text messages on his phone, dating from September 2024 to April 2025, indicating his involvement in buying and selling cocaine. Orona-Rodriguez also held a leadership role in Immortal Security LLC, a company providing armed security to nightclubs, including Warike.

The raid on Warike involved over 300 officers and agents from various law enforcement agencies. During the operation, 114 individuals suspected of being in the U.S. unlawfully were detained. The raid was part of "Operation Take Back America," a nationwide initiative aimed at addressing illegal immigration and dismantling criminal organizations.

Orona-Rodriguez was one of about 17 active-duty Army service members present at the nightclub during the raid. The investigation and arrest were facilitated by the DEA's Rocky Mountain Division, the Army Criminal Investigation Division, and Fort Carson officials. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado is handling the prosecution. Orona-Rodriguez is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

Colorado's Morning News with Marty Lenz & Jeana Gondek