Two Honduran nationals residing in the U.S. without legal authorization are facing federal drug and immigration charges, according to an indictment by a federal grand jury. Jorge Luis Hernandez-Valle, 36, and Luis Alfredo Hernandez, 35, were detained following an operation by the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
During a drug trafficking investigation that began in March of this year, detectives made a controlled narcotics purchase, eventually leading to the seizure of around 4,500 fentanyl pills and the apprehension of Hernandez-Valle and Hernandez on April 8. As per court documents, this isn't Hernandez's first altercation with U.S. immigration authorities; he was previously removed in July 2009 and September 2018, while Hernandez-Valle has been removed three times before, his last being in May 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The charges brought against the two individuals include possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute and reentry of a previously removed alien. Their first court appearance following the indictment took place on April 18 at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City. Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti announced the indictment as part of a broader effort known as Operation Take Back America, targeting illegal immigration and criminal activities linked to cartels and transnational crime organizations.
The case is under the joint investigation of the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with the prosecution being led by Special Assistant United States Attorney Peter Reichman. It is crucial to note, as stated by the Department of Justice, that "an indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
