Jesse Wood, Fentanyl Trafficking, Utah 2024

State: Utah
Category: Drug Trafficking
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-ut/pr/utah-man-arrested-and-charged-possession-fentanyl-intent-distribute" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

A Utah man has been arrested and charged with possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, federal authorities announced today. Jesse Wood, 51, of Taylorsville, Utah, was taken into custody in Salt Lake County and will face trial on the charges, according to a court indictment.

The indictment alleges that Wood intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute forty grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a schedule II controlled substance. Fentanyl is an incredibly dangerous synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.

The fentanyl seized during the investigation was contained in brightly colored pills, known as “rainbow fentanyl,” and may be made by drug traffickers to look like candy to entice young people. The investigation is likely the first seizure of “rainbow fentanyl” in Utah and represents a significant safety risk to the public.

Wood will have a detention hearing at a later date. U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen L. Nelson for the District of Utah prosecuting the case. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.

The danger of illicit fentanyl is a growing concern across the country. To learn more about the risks associated with fentanyl, visit the DEA’s website at https://www.dea.gov/fentanylawareness or https://www.dea.gov/onepill.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The DEA warns that the presence of brightly colored pills, such as “rainbow fentanyl,” should be a red flag for anyone who comes across them. These pills may look like candy, but they contain a deadly and highly potent opioid that can be fatal in small doses.

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