Llobani Federico Figueroa, Drug Trafficking, Utah 2023

A Utah fugitive and alleged drug trafficking ringleader is among 28 defendants charged in a major multi-agency operation, announced U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins. The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City, charges Llobani Federico Figueroa, aka ‘Pablo,’ 32, of Magna, Utah, with multiple drug-related crimes, including conspiracy to distribute drugs, possession and distribution of drugs, aiding and abetting, and firearm offenses.

According to court documents, Figueroa is the alleged ringleader in a major drug trafficking organization that operated in the District of Utah. Figueroa was taken into custody on August 3, 2023. He had been a fugitive since he was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2020 for distribution of methamphetamine.

In the 2023 indictment, Figueroa is listed as the main defendant with 27 additional co-defendants, many of whom were also taken into custody. Some of the main conspirators in the drug trafficking conspiracy include Lorena Inez Herrera, aka Lorena Duran, aka Melissa Valencia, 40, of West Valley City, Utah; Isaac David Valdez, 39, of Salt Lake City; Christopher Kin Chun, aka, ‘Sinner,’ aka, ‘C Kin,’ 25, of West Jordan, Utah; and Candelario Lopez-Perez, 21, a foreign national.

According to the indictment, beginning but not later than December 2022 and continuing through August 2023, in the District of Utah, Figueroa and the defendants named in the indictment, conspired to distribute narcotics, including 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. During this same time period, undercover agents conducted multiple controlled narcotics purchases from different distributors working on behalf of Figueroa’s drug trafficking organization.

Figueroa served as the primary conduit among multiple Californian and Mexico-based sources of supply and broker/distributors in the District of Utah. Figueroa and other members of the drug trafficking conspiracy allegedly rented residences on a short-term basis, often referred to as ‘trap houses,’ from which members of the conspiracy possessed with the intent to distribute narcotics under Figueroa’s direction.

At the time of Figueroa’s arrest, he possessed more than $300,000 in cash, three Glock firearms with ammunition, 3.8 pounds of methamphetamine, 328 grams of heroin, 1.6 pounds of ‘crack’ cocaine, and 409 grams of powder cocaine. Figueroa is also a known member of the nationwide criminal organization ‘LaRaza.’ At the time of Herrera’s arrest, she possessed more than 46 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 37 pounds of cocaine. At the time of Lopez-Perez’s arrest, he possessed approximately 700 grams of methamphetamine, more than 240 grams of heroin, 189 grams of cocaine, more than $15,000 in cash, and a loaded firearm.

Figueroa is charged with a continuing criminal enterprise; conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; conspiracy to distribute heroin; conspiracy to distribute cocaine; possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, aiding and abetting; possession of heroin with intent to distribute, aiding and abetting; felon in possession of a firearm; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. All defendants in the indictment are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Figueroa’s arraignment on the indictment was Monday, August 21, at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. His trial date will be scheduled at a later date. Initial court appearances on the other defendants can be found in the court docket.

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