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SALT LAKE CITY -- Fourteen people have been indicted on federal charges for allegedly distributing cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. The U.S. Attorney's Office says the indictments follow a 16-month investigation.
Caught with drugs, guns and cash; the FBI says those indicted were part of a narcotics distribution network that spanned Salt Lake and Utah counties.
"We're always looking for organizations that are operating in the same manner, and the idea, again, is to make this an inhospitable environment for them to operate," said FBI special agent Greg Bretzing. "The scale of this one was significant."
During the 16 months, multiple law enforcement agencies worked together in searching homes. Neighbors watched as cops busted into a house in Magna.
"We didn't even know it was going on. They were very nice cordial," said neighbor Jordan Gleave.
Three federal indictments and the included court documents show the scale of the operation. Those caught often carried thousands in cash; hundreds of grams in suspected heroin, meth and cocaine were seized.
"When you got an organization such as this one that's involved in the distribution of multiple types of drugs in significant quantities, the ability to dismantle and disrupt that organization has a large impact on the community," Bretzing said.
The FBI says most of the drugs came from Mexico. Many of those involved are Mexican nationals and if convicted, they will face years in prison.
Those indicted include:
- Reshard Benard, 31, Salt Lake City
- Gessiel Sanchez, 25, Salt Lake City
- Jose Soto-Tula, 25, West Valley City
- Salvador Abraham Jaimes, 28, Salt Lake City
- Jose Martinez-Romero, 33, Salt Lake City
- Sandra Palacios-Diaz, 26, Salt Lake City
- Omar Galaviz, 27, Salt Lake City
- Fidel Solache-Moreno, 23, Salt Lake City.
- Martin Mayorga, 37, West Valley City
- Jose Guadalupe Leon-Camargo, 24, West Valley City
- Liverio Mancinas-Lara, 26, Magna
- Francisco Alvarez-Salas, 19, Magna
- Carlos Leon-Cervantes, 29, Provo
- FNU LNU (first name unknown; last name unknown) aka "Lupe," West Valley City
Soto-Tula, Galaviz, Solache-Moreno, and "Lupe" have not yet been arrested. The other suspects are in custody.
The FBI says there's a significant drug-trafficking problem along the Wasatch Front and they're still looking to take down other organizations.
E-mail: wjohnson@ksl.com
