Foreign nationals living in Utah were charged with multiple drug crimes last week for allegedly distributing fentanyl and heroin in the District of Utah.
Jose Manuel Perez-Flores, 36, of West Valley City, Utah; Victor Flores Esquivel, 48, of West Valley City; Jaime Hernandez-Ruin, 26, of West Valley City; and Eduardo Hernandez-Ruiz, 28, of Murray, Utah, were initially charged by complaint and taken into custody on December 23, 2024.
A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment on January 8, 2025.
According to court documents, since approximately September 2024, detectives with the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force began investigating a group believed to be distributing large amounts of heroin and fentanyl throughout Salt Lake County.
During the investigation, detectives conducted several controlled purchases of heroin. Following the controlled purchases, detectives obtained and executed search warrants on three residences on December 16, 2024.
During one of the search warrants in West Valley City, detectives seized 436 grams of fentanyl (approximately 4,360 individual pills), 200 grams of heroin, $1,592 in cash, drug packaging material, and a digital scale.
In a separate area of the residence, detectives also seized 309 grams of fentanyl pills (approximately 3,090 individual pills), 26 grams of heroin, and $1,041 in cash. Multiple electronic money wire transfer receipts and cellular phones were also seized from the residence.
At a second residence in West Valley City, the detective seized 39 grams of fentanyl (approximately 390 individual pills) and 82 grams of heroin, as well as cellular phones, drug packaging material, and several electronic wire transfer receipts.
At a third West Valley City residence, detectives seized 1,912 grams of fentanyl (approximately 19,012 individual pills) and 269 grams of fentanyl pills (approximately 2,069 individual pills) from a vehicle registered to Eduardo Hernandez-Ruiz.
In total, 28,921 individual fentanyl pills and 308 grams of heroin were seized.
Perez-Flores, Flores Esquivel, Jaime Hernandez-Ruiz, and Eduardo Hernandez-Ruiz are charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. All four defendants also face additional individual charges.
Their initial appearance on the indictment is January 13, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
