The ringleader of a Utah-based drug trafficking operation, Angel Rubio-Quintana, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after admitting to distributing large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana in St. George, Utah. U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah believes that Rubio-Quintana's actions jeopardized the safety of the St. George community.
Rubio-Quintana's sentencing reflects the damage he caused to the community. U.S. Attorney Higgins stated, "Mr. Rubio-Quintana's actions jeopardized the safety of the St. George community. Not only did he distribute dangerous narcotics, but he also took advantage of naïve young people convincing them to join in his conspiracy. We appreciate the efforts of all law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation and in removing this harm from our communities."
According to St. George News, Angel Rubio-Quintana came onto law enforcement’s radar in 2020, after they learned that an individual in St. George was receiving large amounts of drugs from a Mexican cartel. In an operation called “Operation Sour Cream,” agents intercepted phone calls from Rubio-Quintana in which he negotiated the prices of drugs from his cartel suppliers. They also conducted several controlled buys in which agents purchased methamphetamine and fentanyl from members of his organization.
According to the Washington Post, Rubio-Quintana obtained his drugs from the Sinaloa Cartel, specifically working with cartel members Ramon Higuera-Cota and Presciliano Galax-Felix. He would order drugs from them, and they would arrive within a day or two, with Rubio-Quintana organizing drug pickups from southern California.
The original indictment from the Department of Justice in February 2022 charged 17 individuals, including Rubio-Quintana, in the criminal conspiracy. Rubio-Quintana, a foreign national, is likely to face deportation after serving his prison sentence.
The impact of drug trafficking and the presence of cartels extend beyond Rubio-Quintana's case. Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera stated that cartels are bringing fentanyl into Salt Lake County, contributing to an increase in crime in Utah and overdose deaths related to fentanyl.
According to the DEA, there were 541 overdose deaths in Utah in 2022, with fentanyl accounting for 74% of those deaths. This represents a significant increase in fentanyl-related deaths compared to 2019, which had 54 deaths, and 2020, which had 122 deaths.
Rubio-Quintana's sentencing serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against drug trafficking and the efforts of law enforcement to protect communities from the dangers posed by these criminal operations.
