Three Honduran nationals residing illegally in the United States have been indicted on multiple drug charges, according to an unsealed indictment. The individuals involved are Jairo Roney Cabrera-Escoto, 40, from North Carolina, and Cristian Eriberto Romero-Soto and Daniel Jose Felix-Aleman, both 24, from Sandy, Utah. The indictment was issued on April 16, 2025, following a complaint against Romero-Soto and Felix-Aleman filed on April 10.
The investigation began in November 2024 by detectives with the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force. It focused on a group suspected of distributing illicit drugs across Salt Lake County. Undercover agents conducted several controlled purchases of fentanyl during this period. On April 8, search warrants executed in Sandy led to the seizure of approximately 32,528 fentanyl pills, drug packaging materials, and $42,137 in cash. Felix-Aleman was arrested during these operations. Additional searches resulted in the confiscation of about 20,059 fentanyl pills along with cellphones and $5,163 in cash; Romero-Soto was also arrested at this time. Cabrera-Escoto was apprehended later on June 6 in North Carolina.
Charges against Cabrera-Escoto, Romero-Soto, and Felix-Aleman include conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin among other offenses. Additionally, Romero-Soto faces charges related to reentry after removal as an alien. Cabrera-Escoto is set for an initial court appearance at a future date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City. Meanwhile, Romero-Soto and Felix-Aleman had their initial appearances on April 18.
The announcement came from Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah. The FBI Salt Lake City Field Office is conducting the investigation alongside the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Special Assistant United States Attorney Peter Reichman is prosecuting the case.
This legal action forms part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The operation leverages resources from various task forces including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
It should be noted that an indictment is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
