Thomas Galiano III and Hailee Anne Helton, both 26 and from Colorado Springs, have been sentenced for their roles in distributing fentanyl that led to two deaths. Galiano received a 144-month sentence, while Helton was sentenced to 168 months after each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute a substance containing fentanyl.
According to plea agreements, in August 2022, the Colorado Springs Police Department responded to an incident at Mountain View Apartment Homes where they found a deceased 31-year-old man. Evidence at the scene included a blue tablet marked M-30, which tested positive for fentanyl. Investigators used electronic data such as CashApp transactions and social media messages to link Helton and Galiano to the sale of the drugs involved in this death.
In October 2022, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a residence on Park Road in Rye, Colorado, after reports of an unresponsive 18-year-old woman. At that location, officers found three blue tablets with an M-30 imprint that also tested positive for fentanyl. Social media evidence connected these pills back to Helton and Galiano.
Also in October 2022, an undercover officer conducted a controlled drug purchase from Helton and Galiano in Colorado Springs. The officer bought 16 fentanyl pills for $150 during this operation.
United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly commented: “Fentanyl is a scourge on our society, and it has claimed the lives of two more young people in our community. These cases should serve as a warning to other fentanyl dealers that selling even just a handful of pills can put you in federal prison for a very long time.”
FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski stated: “Fentanyl continues to take lives within our community, and two lives are lost due to the careless actions of these drug dealers. Working jointly with the Colorado Springs Police Department, FBI Denver was able to bring a measure of justice to their families and accountability to those responsible. We will not stop and will continue to target drug traffickers who bring violence and misery to our community.”
Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez said: “While no sentence can bring the victims in this case back, we hope this outcome provides a measure of justice and comfort to their families and loved ones. We remain unwavering in our commitment to aggressively pursuing those who profit from poisoning our community.”
Pueblo County Sheriff David J. Lucero added: “The loss of a life to fentanyl is devastating, and we take every overdose death seriously. Our crime scene and narcotics detectives’ exceptional work in this case ensured that those who supplied the drugs were brought to justice. This outcome reflects our commitment to treating these cases with the seriousness they deserve.”
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over both sentencings.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Colorado Springs Resident Agency along with the Colorado Springs Police Department and Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by the Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section.
