Alleged Member of the Florencia 13 Gang is Charged Federally Following Attempted Murder on Christmas

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – An alleged member or associate of the Florencia 13, a criminal organization, appeared in court today after he allegedly attempted to murder another person in the District of Utah on Christmas.

Javier Pedregon-Magana, aka “Big Payaso” and “Paya,” 24, of West Jordan, Utah, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City on February 12, 2025.

According to court documents, on December 25, 2024, Pedregon-Magana allegedly engaged in a pre-meditated attack on an unwitting and defenseless victim, stabbing him approximately seven times. Pedregon-Magana then drove the victim’s car and attempted to run the victim down as he fled on foot. As a result of the multiple stab wounds, the victim required immediate life-saving medical attention to prevent exsanguination.

According to court documents, Pedregon-Magana is a member of a criminal street gang (CSG). The stabbing was motivated, in large part, by defendant’s desire to restore his good standing with the CSG.  

Pedregon-Magana is charged with violent crime in aid of racketeering – assault resulting in serious bodily injury, violent crime in racketeering – assault with a dangerous weapon, and violent crime in aid of racketeering – attempted murder.  His initial appearance on the indictment was February 26, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.

Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.

The case is being investigated jointly by the Sandy City Police Department, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office Metro Gang Unit.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

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