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Honduran National Sentenced in Utah Fentanyl Trafficking Case

A final defendant was sentenced to time served following the seizure of approximately 13,000 fentanyl pills in Utah.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 20, 2026, 8:46 a.m. ET
On August 7, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah announced that Jose Enrique Zuniga-Diaz, 20, of Honduras, was to time served, representing 16.5 months' imprisonment, for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. U.S. District Chief Judge Jill N. Parrish imposed the sentence in federal court after Zuniga-Diaz pleaded guilty on April 16, 2026. According to official records and court proceedings, law enforcement seized approximately 13,000 fentanyl pills during a controlled buy and the execution of a search warrant in West Valley City, Utah, on March 19, 2025. Co-defendants in the case also entered guilty pleas: Diego Armando Campos-Fallas was in September 2025 to 42 months' imprisonment and 36 months' supervised release, while Hugo Eduardo Miraba-Franco was to 24 months' imprisonment and 36 months' supervised release. All three defendants will be remanded to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation proceedings upon completion of their sentences. The case was investigated jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as part of Operation Take Back America. "Fentanyl is deadly, and in this case, our law enforcement partners and my office successfully removed 13,000 pills from our streets," U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak said. "This case reflects the strength of our partnerships and our shared commitment to keeping communities safe by stopping drug traffickers and reducing the flow of dangerous drugs."

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  1. Version 120 Aug 2026, 12:46current

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