SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Oct. 5, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — A local man previously convicted of felony crimes has been indicted for alleged drug and firearms charges while on probation, says a statement issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, District of Utah.
Andres “Junior” Garcia, 35, of Salt Lake City was indicted twice by a federal grand jury in June 2024 once for robbery of mail, and then for distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possession of firearms and ammunition. Since Garcia’s arrest, both indictments have been unsealed.
Garcia, who is incarcerated, made his first court appearance Friday on two separate indictments. The defendant was arrested last month after allegedly committing mail robbery, and drug and gun crimes in the Spring of 2024 while on federal probation.
“According to court documents, in February 2024, Garcia allegedly stole mail from a U.S. Postal Service van and threatened the postal worker when he confronted Garcia,” the news release says. “As alleged, Garcia reached into his sweatshirt, as if he had a weapon, and told the postal worker to ‘get back.’ Garcia then ran off with the mail.
“In the second case, in March 2024, on three separate occasions, Garcia allegedly sold 500 fentanyl pills, four ounces of methamphetamine and three firearms, including a Bersa Firestorm pistol, a Smith & Wesson M&P 9C pistol, and a Girsan MC 1911 S XLV pistol, and associated ammunition.”
Garcia, a convicted felon, is restricted from possessing firearms and ammunition and was on felony probation at the time he allegedly committed these new offenses.
United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The cases are being investigated jointly by the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake, Metro Gang Unit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
