Executive Summary
- Cortez D’Angelo Dennis sentenced to six years in prison for pimping.
- Human trafficking charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
- The arrest followed an undercover operation during the National Western Stock Show.
- Two victims were recovered and connected with support services.
GOLDEN, Colo. — A Colorado man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to a pimping charge stemming from a broader human trafficking investigation in the Denver metropolitan area. Cortez D’Angelo Dennis, 32, appeared in Jefferson County Court on Tuesday, where he was sentenced to six years in the Department of Corrections.
According to court records, Dennis entered a guilty plea to one felony count of pimping. As part of the negotiated plea agreement, a more severe charge of human trafficking for sexual servitude was dismissed. The sentencing concludes a legal process that began with his arrest last September.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office stated that the charges resulted from a targeted undercover operation conducted during the National Western Stock Show in January 2025. Investigators reported that the operation focused on responding to commercial sex advertisements with the specific intent of recovering potential victims of human trafficking.
Deputies confirmed that two adult victims were identified during the operation and were subsequently connected with victim support services. Law enforcement officials alleged that Dennis had been facilitating the trafficking of women from various locations throughout the Denver metro area.
It is important to note that while the defendant admitted guilt to the pimping charge, the dismissed allegations of human trafficking were not proven in court, and individuals are legally presumed innocent of charges until a verdict or plea is entered.
Judicial & Operational Implications
This sentencing highlights the role of plea negotiations in securing convictions in complex exploitation cases, where proving human trafficking charges can often present significant evidentiary challenges. The six-year term for pimping represents a substantial penalty, reinforcing the judicial system’s stance on financial exploitation of sexual acts. Operationally, the case underscores the strategic value of high-visibility enforcement during major public events like the Stock Show, which effectively utilized surveillance of commercial sex advertising to disrupt trafficking networks and recover victims.
