A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City indicted two Mexican nationals residing illegally in the United States on April 24 for alleged drug trafficking crimes, following the seizure of nearly 100,000 fentanyl pills and other narcotics by law enforcement agents.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address large-scale drug distribution and related criminal activity in Utah. The indictment comes as part of a broader initiative to target transnational criminal organizations operating within the United States.
Eder Montoya-Rosales, also known as Jesus Tadeo Gonzalez Estrada, age 21, and Nazario De Jesus Del Campo Perez, age 31, were charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin as well as reentry after removal from the country. Agents with the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force and Homeland Security Task Force executed search warrants on April 8 at residences and vehicles linked to both defendants. According to court documents cited in the indictment announcement by First Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah, agents seized approximately 9,747 grams of suspected fentanyl (about 97,000 pills), over a kilogram of heroin, methamphetamine quantities, cash, suspected drug ledgers and paraphernalia from Perez’s residence. Additional drugs were found during searches involving Montoya-Rosales’s vehicle and home.
Both men have previously been removed from the United States; Montoya-Rosales was deported on October 1 last year while Perez has been removed multiple times since March 2014. Their initial court appearance is scheduled for April 24 at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City.
Holyoak said: “These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.” She added that HSTF brings together agencies including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with prosecution led by her office.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah advances community well-being through victim assistance programs and public safety initiatives according to its official website. The office maintains locations in Salt Lake City and St. George along with access to sites such as Hill Air Force Base according to its official website. It operates under the U.S. Department of Justice according to its official website.
There are about 85 employees including approximately 45 assistant attorneys working at this office according to its official website. The office enforces federal laws across all counties in Utah—including areas containing national parks and Indian reservations—while managing both criminal prosecutions and civil cases on public lands according to its official website.
Prosecutors remind that an indictment is only an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
