On the morning of August 14, 2024, a Mesa County Sheriff's Office Deputy stopped a vehicle traveling eastbound on I-70  near Fruita for a traffic violation. Upon a consent search of the vehicle, approximately 50,000 small pills consistent with fentanyl and three pounds of suspected heroin were discovered and seized. Carlos Fernandez-Marquez, age 35, of California, was taken into custody and transported to the Mesa County Detention Facility.

Fernandez is currently being held on two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute, two counts of Special Circumstances for Importing drugs into the State of Colorado, and a Federal Immigration Violation.

The estimated street value of the fentanyl ranges from $150,000 - $500,000. The heroin has an estimated value of $35,000.

For updated bond information and the full list of charges, visit the Mesa County Sheriff's Office website.