Man sentenced to prison after shooting at Gaylord Rockies Resort in May 2023

DENVER – A Brighton man was sentenced to 90 months in prison in connection with a shooting at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in May 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado said Wednesday.

Sonny Perez, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics containing more than 40 grams of fentanyl and one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. As part of a plea agreement, he was sentenced to 90 months in prison and four years of supervised release.

According to the agreement, Perez went to the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center on May 29, 2023 to sell drugs. Surveillance cameras filmed Perez leaving the hotel with his right hand in his pocket.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said people outside the hotel reported hearing a “loud noise” and seeing a man with blood dripping down his leg. The man was treated for a gunshot wound to the leg.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said investigators tracked Perez to his home, where they found narcotics, evidence of drug distribution and ammunition. Perez had already been convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing ammunition.

“Offenders should be on guard – they face lengthy prison sentences if they continue to arm themselves,” Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch said in a statement. “I thank our partners for joining us in the fight to prevent weapons and ammunition from falling into the hands of criminals and drugs from disappearing from our streets.”

“Violent, illegally armed drug trafficking offenders pose a persistent and serious threat to innocent citizens everywhere,” ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers said in a statement. “ATF, working closely with the Aurora Police Department and the RAVEN Task. “Prosecute these violent criminals every day with violence and the full force of local, state and federal law enforcement resources.”