RELATIVES SAY THERE'S NO WAY RETIRED DENVER FIREFIGHTER SOLD DRUGS

Retired Denver Fire Department Lt. David Cordova, swept up in a
federal drug sweep last week, was ordered released from jail Friday on
a $10,000 unsecured bond. Cordova, 56, pleaded not guilty to one count
of conspiring to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and five
counts of distributing less than 500 grams of cocaine.

Federal prosecutors say Cordova was part of a network of people
trafficking 20 kilograms of cocaine a week from the Sinaloa Cartel in
Juarez, Mexico. The drugs were then sold on the streets of Denver by
gang members, prosecutors say.

Cordova's attorney, Harvey Steinberg, said he has not yet seen the
evidence prosecutors say they have against his client.

About six members of Cordova's family showed up at his bond hearing
before U.S. Magistrate Judge Boyd Boland.

They said the 29-year veteran of the Denver Fire Department has
nothing to do with the Sinaloa Cartel, doesn't use drugs and has
nothing to do with gang members.

Close family members refused to give their names, but said Cordova is
wrongly accused by association because he had the phone number of
another person indicted in the drug conspiracy in his cellphone and
authorities have made a mistake about his involvement.

"It's a total shock," said a woman who said she was a close family
member. "It's like a miscarriage of justice. He's never been in
trouble with the law before."

His family says fellow firefighters who served with Cordova have been
calling the house to express their concern.

"They are all saying there is no way David did that," the woman
said.

The indictment says Cordova was involved in drug trafficking from
March through September and contributed to the larger conspiracy. In
total, 35 people were indicted by federal prosecutors.

Cordova, a father of three, could face 10 years to life on the first
charge and up to 20 years on the remaining five counts.