THE DIA PIPELINE

If the city gets its way, M&N no longer will be. The city moved to decertify the company last year, but Pacheco has appealed. A hearing is scheduled for March 17.

"We've got five people to testify that we're not brokers," Pacheco says. Pacheco also rejects the city's claim that Stevens is in charge of day-to-day operations. "Leonard's a salesperson," Pacheco says. "He doesn't make any [management] decisions."

Pacheco blames the city's action on a "personal vendetta" by MOCC staffer Lupita Gusman. Pacheco represented Gusman's sister's ex-husband during the couple's divorce years ago, he says, and Gusman has been "hounding" him out of spite. "I can't give you any other explanation," Pacheco says. Gusman declines comment.

MOCC director Wayne Cauthen did not return repeated phone calls. Last year, however, he told Westword he didn't believe brokers were operating in the city on a large scale.

The city ordinance establishing preference for minority- and women-owned firms expires this year. In August the Denver City Council will vote on whether to renew it.