A federal grand jury has handed up a 59-count indictment charging 17 people with cocaine possession and distribution and other alleged crimes.
In addition to the drug charges, the 17 were charged with counts ranging from using a telephone in commission of the distribution crimes to engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise.The indictment, announced Monday by U.S. Attorney David Jordan, stemmed from a joint investigative effort by the U.S. Attorney's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Department.
"The investigation which led to this indictment is a prime example of how law enforcement in Utah is working together to identify and prosecute major narcotics offenses," Jordan said.
County Attorney David Yocom agreed, saying the indictments "demonstrate the effectiveness of combining federal and state investigative and prosecutions resources to attack one of the biggest problems facing our community - drug trafficking."
Sheriff Aaron Kennard added that such cooperation between federal, state and local law agencies "has become the standard in narcotics law enforcement in Utah."
The indictment charges Henry W. Quintana, 25, of Murray, with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. If convicted, Quintana could be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison and fined $2 million.
He also is charged with possessing cocaine and distribution of the drug, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million; using a telephone to assist in distributing cocaine, which carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison and a fine of $250,000; and conspiracy to distribute cocaine, punishable by up to 20 years and a $1 million fine.
Also named in the indictment are Quintana's father and mother, Henry E. Quintana, 46, and Barbara Quintana, 44, of Salt Lake County.
Remaining defendants are variously charged with cocaine distribution and criminal telephone use.