A Fort Carson Staff Sergeant accused of trafficking cocaine and operating a private armed security firm tied to an illegal Colorado Springs nightclub told the FBI that his mother-in-law owned and ran the venue.
Staff Sergeant Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez, 27, remains in federal custody following his arrest during a multi-agency raid on the unlicensed nightclub “Warike” in the early morning hours of April 27. The club, located near South Academy Boulevard and Airport Road, was shut down after federal authorities seized drugs, weapons, and detained over 100 undocumented immigrants—many suspected to have ties to drug and human trafficking operations.
In federal court Tuesday, an FBI agent testified that Orona-Rodriguez told investigators the club was the responsibility of his wife’s mother, Virginia Thorne. According to testimony, Thorne leased the building that housed the club and was present in court briefly before leaving after speaking with the defense team.
Despite his attempts to distance himself from the club’s ownership, prosecutors allege Orona-Rodriguez played a central role in its security operations. He is listed as a leader or owner of Immortal Security LLC, a private company that supplied armed guards to Warike and other venues in the area. Court records show Orona-Rodriguez sold half an ounce of cocaine to an undercover DEA agent for $450 just days before the raid.
This latest hearing confirms and expands upon details first reported by The Salty Soldier on May 2, which revealed that Orona-Rodriguez had received a formal counseling statement from his chain of command in March—explicitly warning him that his off-duty security business violated Army regulations. The Army’s documented concern did little to slow his activity, as the soldier allegedly continued operating Immortal Security and working with other active-duty troops in defiance of that order.
DEA Raid Uncovers Links to Sinaloa Cartel
The April 27 bust was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and supported by more than a dozen local, state, and federal agencies. It revealed disturbing ties to transnational organized crime. According to Department of Homeland Security officials, narcotics recovered at the scene—including cocaine, meth, and the psychedelic stimulant “tusi”—were linked to the Sinaloa cartel. Twelve firearms were also seized.
In total, 104 undocumented immigrants from nine different countries were detained, and the Department of Justice confirmed that 17 active-duty military personnel were present at the club when the raid occurred.
A DHS spokesperson issued a statement over the weekend framing the raid as part of a broader crackdown on cartel operations:
“ICE along with our local, state, and federal partners arrested more than 100 individuals, including suspected members of the Sinaloa cartel… Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, the days of unchecked cartel violence are over.”
Orona-Rodriguez is currently the only individual charged in direct connection to the raid. Two other individuals were arrested on unrelated warrants. The Fourth Judicial District has stated that it has not received any additional referrals from the operation, raising questions about the extent of prosecutorial follow-through for others present.
Fallout and Military Silence
The case has already sparked concern within military and veteran communities over how a soldier with a documented history of misconduct was able to continue operating so brazenly.
The Army has yet to issue a public statement on the matter, nor has it addressed whether any disciplinary actions under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) will be pursued against Orona-Rodriguez or the other soldiers present during the raid.
The soldier faces two felony charges:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine (21 U.S.C. § 846)
- Distribution and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine (21 U.S.C. § 841)
Each carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to $1 million in fines, and supervised release.
Despite the seriousness of the charges, Orona-Rodriguez’s defense attorney argued in court that the amount of cocaine involved—just half an ounce—is minimal compared to typical federal narcotics cases. However, prosecutors emphasize that this was part of a larger, organized pattern of trafficking, not a one-off transaction.
Orona-Rodriguez’s next court appearance is scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 15.
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