A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City indicted Lester Levi Carias Zuniga, a 29-year-old Honduran national, on April 2 for allegedly attempting to distribute fentanyl and reentering the United States after removal.
The indictment follows an investigation that resulted in the seizure of approximately 2,500 individual fentanyl pills from Carias Zuniga’s vehicle and residence. Authorities say this case is significant due to the quantity of drugs involved and because Carias Zuniga had previously been removed from the United States.
According to court documents, detectives with the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force received information in March that a man later identified as Carias Zuniga was distributing fentanyl throughout the Salt Lake area. A controlled purchase was arranged, during which he arrived in a Toyota Camry. Surveillance led investigators to his West Jordan residence. On March 18, detectives executed a search warrant on both his home and vehicle, recovering around 266 grams of fentanyl pills—equivalent to about 2,500 pills—and additional quantities of fentanyl powder. Both substances field-tested positive for fentanyl.
Carias Zuniga had previously been removed from the country in 2018 but was found residing unlawfully in West Jordan at the time of his arrest. There is no evidence he obtained permission to be present in the United States after his removal.
First Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak announced that Carias Zuniga faces charges including possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and illegal reentry after removal. A two-day jury trial is scheduled for June 9 at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse.
The investigation was conducted by the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Special United States Attorney Pete Reichman will prosecute the case.
Officials said this prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative aiming to address illegal immigration and criminal organizations linked to violent crime nationwide.
Authorities remind that an indictment is only an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
