Denver DA Announces 12 Individuals Known as “The Family” Indicted on Organized Crime Charges

DENVER—A Denver Grand Jury indicted 12 people on 92 counts for allegedly committing a series of crimes, some violent and at gunpoint, to support their methamphetamine addiction. The Denver DA today announced that between April 2019 and October 2020, Sarah Marie Lore (38-years old), Estevan Barrientos (23-years old), Sherry Beth Swain (36-years old), Martynas Calka (22-years old), Brian Hernandez (30-years old), Dakota Maurice Hoffman (27-years old), Misha Nicholas Lamanna (41-years old), Derrick Leo Mowery (33-years old), Clifford James Puppe (36-years old), Kimberly Jean Redd (30-years old), Matthew David Sanchez (34-years old), and Christopher Lee Wallman (39-years old), who called themselves “The Family,” were indicted for allegedly operating as members of an enterprise. The defendants are accused of committing identity theft from more than 240 victims – mainly through mail theft – and of stealing more than $550,000 in vehicles. They are also accused of stealing and selling weapons, bicycles, sports memorabilia, jewelry, electronics, money and other items.

Known as “Street Mom,” Lore is accused of brokering deals in person and over Facebook to buy and sell items. The indictment details a pattern of activity in which the defendants, whom Lore called her “Street Sons,” “brothers” and “sisters,” shared money, property, food, clothing and living quarters. They are alleged to have kept a rental locker where they stored items including a notebook with instructions for how to commit fraudulent schemes. Lore is also accused of maintaining control of “Family” operations through violent attacks on members of the “Family.”

The 12 defendants are variously charged with violating Colorado’s Organized Crime Control Act (F2), identity theft (F4), second degree kidnapping (F2), first degree burglary (F3), robbery (F4), aggravated motor vehicle theft in the first degree (F5), criminal extortion (F4), theft (F5), menacing (F5), assault in the third degree (M1) in addition other charges. Eight of the 12 defendants were on probation, some in multiple cases, during the time of the alleged offenses.

This indictment was made possible thanks to the involvement of the Broomfield Police Department; United States Postal Inspection Service; Colorado Bureau of Investigation; Denver Police Department; RAVEN Task Force; North Metro Drug Task Force; Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office; Arvada Police Department; Aurora Police Department; Lakewood Police Department; Thornton Police Department and the Colorado State Patrol.

The 12 are being tried individually in Denver District Court courtroom 5A. Their case numbers are:  Sarah Marie Lore – 20CR15183, Estevan Barrientos – 20CR15182, Sherry Beth Swain – 20CR15184, Martynas Calka 20CR15185, Brian Hernandez -20CR15186, Dakota Maurice Hoffman – 20CR15187, Misha Nicholas Lamanna – 20CR15188, Derrick Leo Mowery – 20CR15189, Clifford James Puppe – 20CR15190, Kimberly Jean Redd – 20CR15191, Matthew David Sanchez – 20CR15192, and Christopher Lee Wallman – 20CR15193.

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