In a substantial blow to drug trafficking operations in Utah, Llobani Federico Figueroa, known as "Pablo," has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for running a drug empire that stretched from California to Mexico, with significant implications for the streets of Utah, according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. Figueroa's sentencing comes after he pleaded guilty to charges of operating a continuing criminal enterprise and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, a chapter in his life that began when he was only 18 and spanned over a decade.
The court documents reveal that Figueroa's network was responsible for the distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine which were transported to Utah by courier and he admitted to managing and supervising this illicit operation which involved recruiting participants and organizing couriers to keep this machine running and his role critical in sustaining a business that thrived on the shadows of legal economies and regulated commerce. Alongside his prison term, Figueroa is facing a forfeiture of over $300,000 in cash, firearms and accessories, ammunition, and vehicles for the role he played as a drug trafficking ringleader.
Figueroa's criminal activities have not gone unnoticed, as he is currently the subject of three pending state criminal cases with charges that include possession and distribution of controlled substances and manslaughter, This comprehensive legal scrutiny underscores the severity with which his actions have compromised community well-being.
Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti stressed the gravity of Figueroa's crimes stating that, "His well-deserved decades-long sentence will serve as a reminder that those who peddle poison into our communities in violation of federal law for their own financial gain will face justice and forfeit their ill-gotten gains," as per U.S. Department of Justice, while Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed of the Salt Lake City FBI emphasized the personal toll of substance abuse, indicating that behind every statistic lies a person who is someone’s child, sibling, or friend and acknowledging the depth of the devastation that Figueroa contributed to. Meanwhile, West Valley City Police Chief Colleen Jacobs gave credit to the street crimes unit for their meticulous work that played a significant role in the successful capture and dismantling of a major drug operation.
