SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Oct. 30, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City has indicted a foreign national living in Utah with drug crimes after he allegedly possessed fentanyl with the intent to distribute it.
Yoni Lerma-Renteria, aka Yoni Lerma-Acosta, 30, of Salt Lake County, was initially charged by complaint on Oct. 10 of this year.
According to court documents,the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force began a criminal investigation of Lerma-Renteria and other members of a drug trafficking organization believed to be distributing large quantities of narcotics in September of this year.
“In October 2024, agents executed search warrants for Lerma-Renteria’s residence and vehicle. During the search, agents recovered approximately 4,490.5 grams of field-tested positive fentanyl and 15 grams of field-tested positive cocaine. Agents estimated the fentanyl at approximately 45,000 fentanyl pills,” says a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Utah.
Lerma-Renteria is charged with possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, and illegal reentry of a previously removed alien.
United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
