SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 2, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — A northern Utah man was booked into the Salt Lake County jail Thursday after warrants were served on three locations by officers of the Davis Task Force and agents with the FBI.
Fermin Castro Tovar, 25, was arrested for investigation of three counts of alleged distribution/offer/arrange distribution of controlled substance, a second-degree felony.
“The primary suspect, Castro Tovar, was involved in this investigation and had delivered controlled substances to a confidential source in the month of May 2024,” says his affidavit, filed by an officer of the Davis County Task Force.
“From these controlled purchases, search warrants were obtained. Castro Tovar had been followed, and his vehicle monitored through a GPS monitoring device.”
Agents conducted a warranted search at Castro Tovar’s storage unit and found about 25 pounds of suspected methamphetamine.
Castro Tovar was later stopped by agents as he returned to his residence (no location provided), and “was taken into custody with no issues.”
Castro Tovar, who reportedly speaks only Spanish, was read his Miranda rights and interviewed in Spanish. He agreed to be interviewed, the affidavit says.
“Castro Tovar advised he had about six pounds of methamphetamine inside his residence, and explained where the methamphetamine was at.”
Castro Tovar admitted having access to the storage unit officers searched and coordinating deliveries of meth there. He admitted to having keys and being responsible for the unit contents, his affidavit says.
After initial hesitation, Castro Tovar also admitted to having a unit at the Shadowbrook Apartments, to which officers said they had frequently tracked his car. Castro Tovar “admitted using this apartment for storing some of the methamphetamine,” adding that no one lived in the unit.
In a warranted search of the apartment, “agents located a large trash bag with approximately 15 pounds of methamphetamine and a case with approximately five more pounds,” the affidavit says.
“Castro Tovar admitted having access to all three locations, and being responsible and temporary owner of all the methamphetamine seized. He was the person directly in contact with the sources of supply to pick up the methamphetamine and distribute it throughout the area,” his arrest documents say.
Castro Tovar is from Mexico and has no legal status in the United States. He has family in Mexico and is considered a flight risk.
“US Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) agents also had a history of deportation from Castro Tovar, and put an ICE hold for the immigration side of this investigation,” the affidavit says.
He is being held without bail in the Salt Lake County jail.
