San Francisco – In a significant blow to the Tenderloin District drug trafficking organization, 42-year-old Victor Viera-Chirinos was extradited to the United States from Honduras on May 8, 2024. This marks the fourth extradition in the case against 14 defendants accused of trafficking large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine in San Francisco.
Viera-Chirinos, a convicted felon, 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 Viera-Chirinos on August 8, 2019, alleging he was one of 14 defendants trafficking large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine.
The charging documents describe how Viera-Chirinos was involved with the organization. For example, the complaint alleges Viera-Chirinos collected "rent" for street-level dealers who paid the organization for housing while participating in the organization’s drug trafficking activities. Similarly, the charging documents describe how the defendant played a role in ensuring street-level dealers were supplied with drugs for trafficking activities.
On January 27, 2021, Viera-Chirinos pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B). In his plea agreement, Viera-Chirinos described his role in the drug trafficking organization; specifically, Viera-Chirinos admitted that no later than June 2018 he entered into an agreement with other individuals to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine to street-level dealers, who ultimately sold drugs in the streets of San Francisco, including in the city’s Tenderloin District.
Viera-Chirinos further acknowledged in his plea agreement that the total weight of drugs attributable to him was an amount over 1775 kilograms of converted drug weight.
Viera-Chirinos is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim on May 15, 2024, for sentencing. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that Viera-Chirinos thought he could evade consequences for his criminal conduct by fleeing to Honduras prior to his sentencing, but the government’s reach is long and they are determined to assign the resources necessary to eradicate drug dealing from their neighborhoods and punish those who are found guilty of violating the drug trafficking laws.
The DEA Special Agent in Charge, Brian M. Clark, stated that Viera-Chirinos thought he could run from justice, but he could not hide from it. As sustained enforcement efforts in San Francisco continue, the economics of drug dealing no longer make sense for those peddling poison in the Tenderloin.
Mandatory Facts: Defendant’s Real Full Name: Victor Viera-Chirinos, Exact Criminal Charges: Conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine, City and State: San Francisco, California, Exact Date: May 8, 2024, Sentence or Outcome: Scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim on May 15, 2024, for sentencing.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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