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SALT LAKE CITY — Fifteen out of 26 people indicted in a massive 2021 Utah drug bust are serving a collective 97½ years in prison and facing a total of 55 years of supervised release, federal court records show.
Of the remaining 11 defendants, five are scheduled for sentencing; one is expected to take a plea deal; one is scheduled for trial; and four have cases pending at various points in the legal system.
Local, state and federal officials announced in June 2021 that the defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on 34 counts including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl; money laundering; engaging in a continual criminal enterprise and firearms charges.
Agents estimated that the organization — local Norteno gang members who teamed up with Mexican drug cartels — were responsible for about 420 pounds of methamphetamine being transported to and distributed in the Salt Lake Valley during 2020 and 2021, investigators said at that time. In addition to meth and heroin, agents seized fentanyl pills, 15 guns and about $25,000 in cash.
Investigators said in 2021 that 27 people were indicted, but federal court records list only 26. Here's where each case is now, according to court records:
Cases resolved via plea deals
Pedro Jurado
Pedro Jurado, of Midvale, was sentenced on Jan. 17 to six years in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release. He initially faced seven drug possession and distribution charges. Prosecutors dismissed six of the charges when Jurado pleaded guilty in September 2022 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Jessica LeAnn Vigil
Sandy resident Jessica LeAnn Vigil was given four drug possession and distribution charges. Prosecutors dismissed three of the charges when she pleaded guilty in March 2022 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On Dec. 7, 2022, she was given credit for jail time already served and sentenced to three years of supervised release.
Maria "Sky" Islas-Avila
Maria "Sky" Islas-Avila, from Escondido, California, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute heroin. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed two additional drug distribution charges. Islas-Avila was sentenced on Dec. 6, 2022, to three years in prison followed by four years of supervised release.
Joseph "Qujo" Raymond Trujillo
Joseph "Qujo" Raymond Trujillo, of West Valley City, was sentenced on Nov. 8, 2022, to 10 years in prison and four years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty in May 2022 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dropped three additional drug charges and two additional firearms charges.
Edward David Lucero
Sandy resident Edward David Lucero initially faced six drug distribution charges and a money laundering charge. Prosecutors dismissed five charges when Lucero pleaded guilty in March 2022 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder money. He was sentenced on Oct. 18, 2022, to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release.
Erika Rachelle Vigil
Erika Rachelle Vigil, of West Valley City, pleaded guilty in January 2022 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute heroin. Prosecutors then dismissed two additional drug distribution charges. She was sentenced on Oct. 6, 2022, to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Patrice Raelynn Estes
Salt Lake City resident Patrice Raelynn Estes was charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Prosecutors dropped one charge when she pleaded guilty to the other in April 2022. Estes was sentenced on Sept. 21, 2022, to three and a half years in prison and three years of supervised release.
Anthony "Lil Ace" James Runion
Anthony "Lil Ace" James Runion, of Salt Lake City, was also charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Prosecutors again dropped one charge when he pleaded guilty to the other in May 2022. He was sentenced on Sept. 21, 2022, to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Jerry "Nino" Philip Vigil
Bountiful resident Jerry "Nino" Philip Vigil faced 16 charges related to drug possession, drug distribution and firearms possession. Prosecutors dismissed 13 of the charges when he pleaded guilty in May 2022 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute heroin, and conspiracy to launder money. Vigil was sentenced on Sept. 7, 2022, to 16 years in prison and five years of supervised release.
Richard Lawrence Trujillo
Salt Lake City resident Richard Lawrence Trujillo pleaded guilty in April 2022 to conspiracy to distribute heroin. In exchange, prosecutors dropped an additional drug charge and a firearms possession charge. Trujillo was sentenced on Aug. 3, 2022, to seven years in prison and five years of supervised release.
Leandro Cortez Ochoa Lovato-Howells
Leandro Cortez Ochoa Lovato-Howells, of Salt Lake City, was sentenced on July 12, 2022, to nine years in prison followed by four years of supervised release. He was charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and prosecutors dropped one when he pleaded guilty to the other in April 2022.
Judy "Juicy Judy" Ann Maestas
Salt Lake City resident Judy "Juicy Judy" Ann Maestas was also charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and prosecutors again dropped one when she pleaded guilty to the other in March 2022. She was sentenced on June 6, 2022, to six years in prison and three years of supervised release.
Mario "Grump" Alberto Lovato
Mario "Grump" Alberto Lovato, of Salt Lake City, was also charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and prosecutors also dropped one charge when he pleaded guilty to the other in March 2022. He was sentenced on June 3, 2022, to five years in prison and three years of supervised release.
Martin "Lalo" Verduzco-Muro
Martin "Lalo" Verduzco-Muro, of Bountiful, initially faced eight charges, including drug distribution, money laundering and firearms possession. Prosecutors dropped five charges when he pleaded guilty in March 2022 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute heroin and conspiracy to launder money. Verduzco-Muro was sentenced on May 24, 2022, to eight years in prison and three years of supervised release. Additionally, upon release, he'll be remanded to ICE.
Celina "Baby G" Alexandra Garcia
Salt Lake City resident Celina "Baby G" Alexandra Garcia pleaded guilty in February 2022 to distribution of a controlled substance. In exchange, prosecutors dropped two additional drug distribution charges. Garcia was sentenced on May 10, 2022, to eight years in prison and three years of supervised release.
Upcoming sentences
As of Feb. 9, six more defendants who took plea deals are waiting for sentencing.
Linda Hernandez-Alvarez
Salt Lake City resident Linda Hernandez-Alvarez pleaded guilty in October 2022 to three drug distribution charges and two money laundering charges. In exchange, prosecutors dropped three additional drug and money laundering charges. Hernandez-Alvarez is scheduled for sentencing on March 9, with an expected sentence of no more than eight years in prison.
Kylee Jimenez-Cuna
Kylee Jimenez-Cuna, of Bountiful, pleaded guilty in March 2022 to two drug distribution charges. Prosecutors dismissed a third charge in exchange. Her sentencing is scheduled for March 22. Both of the charges Jimenez-Cuna pleaded guilty to carry a maximum of life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years, though prosecutors agreed as part of her plea deal to recommend she be sentenced on the low end of the guidelines.
Pete Vince Espinoza
Salt Lake City resident Pete Vince Espinoza is scheduled for sentencing on April 4, with an expected sentence of nine years in prison. Prosecutors dismissed two drug distribution charges and a gun possession charge when Espinoza pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Jeffrey Kraig Ellis
West Valley City resident Jeffrey Kraig Ellis pleaded guilty in December 2022 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed two additional drug distribution charges. He's scheduled for sentencing on April 5, with an expected sentence of 10 to 12 years in prison.
Jennifer Lopez-Lopez
Jennifer Lopez-Lopez, of San Marcos, California, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to three drug distribution charges. Prosecutors dismissed two additional drug distribution charges in exchange. Her sentencing is scheduled for April 18. Two of the charges she pleaded guilty to carry a maximum of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison; the third carries a maximum of five years. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors have agreed to recommend that Lopez-Lopez be sentenced on the low end of sentencing guidelines.
Joe "Jojo" Robert Rael
Joe "Jojo" Robert Rael, of Salt Lake City, faced six charges, including drug possession, drug distribution and money laundering. He pleaded guilty on Feb. 9 to two of the drug distribution charges and to a money laundering charge. His sentencing is scheduled for May 31.
Upcoming trials
Luis Cuna-Vigil
Luis Cuna-Vigil, of Rosarito, Mexico, is facing five charges, including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder money. His trial is set to start on March 13.
Cases still pending
Jesus Avila-Garcia
Salt Lake City resident Jesus Avila-Garcia is scheduled for a final pretrial conference on March 6. He's facing two drug distribution charges and a money laundering charge.
Brandon "Trip" Jay Perrault
Salt Lake City resident Brandon "Trip" Jay Perrault is also scheduled for a final pretrial conference on March 6. He's facing two drug distribution charges.
Brian Michael Fioravanti
Brian Michael Fioravanti, of Salt Lake City, is scheduled for a preliminary revocation hearing on Feb. 13 and a final pretrial conference on March 6. He's facing three drug distribution charges and a money laundering charge.
Felicia "Fela" Nicole Mingura
Felicia "Fela" Nicole Mingura, of Salt Lake City, was charged with three counts of drug distribution and pleaded guilty to one of them in November 2022. However, she was admitted to the Utah Alternatives to Conviction Track, which offers a mix of treatment and sanction alternatives designed to address the underlying causes of criminal behavior. Mingura's sentencing has been deferred until she completes the program.
Separate indictments
Prior to the 2021 drug bust, a grand jury returned five federal indictments for defendants related to the operation, investigators said in their original announcement.
Daniel Maestas
Daniel Maestas, of Salt Lake City, was sentenced on July 15, 2022, to 12 years and nine months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and prosecutors dropped one when he pleaded guilty to the other in December 2021.
Victor Jurado
Salt Lake City resident Victor Jurado pleaded guilty in February 2022 to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced on May 23, 2022, to four years and nine months in prison with credit for time served, followed by three years of supervised release.
Joseph "Chino" Paul House
Joseph "Chino" Paul House, of Taylorsville, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced on Jan. 20, 2022, to two years in prison with credit for time served, followed by three years of supervised release. His federal sentence is running concurrent to three state sentences.
Linda Rose Garcia
Linda Rose Garcia, of Salt Lake City, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to being a felon in possession of a firearm. She was sentenced on Dec. 20, 2021, to credit for time jail time already served and to three years of supervised release.
David "Droops" Soto-Acosta
Salt Lake City resident David "Droops" Soto-Acosta pleaded guilty in August 2021 to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced on Dec. 2, 2021, to eight years in prison with credit for time served, followed by three years of supervised release.
