Related Federal Cases
Tenderloin Trafficker Victor Viera-Chirinos Extradited to Face Justice
The government of Honduras has extradited convicted felon Victor Viera-Chirinos, 42, to the United States to face charges of drug trafficking in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. This marks the fourth extradition in the case against 14 defendants accused of trafficking large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine.
Viera-Chirinos was originally charged by criminal complaint on July 29, 2019, with participating in a conspiracy to distribute drugs in the Tenderloin. A federal grand jury indicted him on August 8, 2019, alleging he was one of 14 defendants trafficking large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine.
According to the charging documents, Viera-Chirinos collected ‘rent’ for street-level dealers who paid the organization for housing while participating in the organization’s drug trafficking activities. He also played a role in ensuring street-level dealers were supplied with drugs for trafficking activities.
Viera-Chirinos pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine on January 27, 2021. In his plea agreement, he described his role in the drug trafficking organization, admitting to entering into an agreement with other individuals to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine to street-level dealers.
The district court scheduled Viera-Chirinos’s sentencing hearing for June 2, 2021, but the defendant absconded from pretrial release and fled to Honduras approximately one week prior to his sentencing. He has now been returned to the Northern District of California and is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim on May 15, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey warned, “Victor Viera-Chirinos thought he could evade consequences for his criminal conduct by fleeing to Honduras prior to his sentencing. Let this case be instructive to people considering whether to distribute drugs in the Tenderloin District; the reach of the government is long and we are determined to assign the resources necessary to eradicate drug dealing from our neighborhoods and punish those who are found guilty of violating the drug trafficking laws.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark added, “Victor Viera-Chirinos thought he could run from justice, but he could not hide from it. As our sustained enforcement efforts in San Francisco continue, the economics of drug dealing no longer make sense for those peddling poison in the Tenderloin. This extradition makes it clear that we will use every tool at our disposal to hold you accountable because no one is beyond the grasp of the DEA and our law enforcement partners.”
Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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