Mexican National Indicted for Drug and Firearm Crimes

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A Mexican national, whose immigration status was revoked at the time of his arrest, is facing federal charges for drug and firearm crimes, and was ordered by the court to remain in federal custody.

Ignacio Gonzalez, 27, a Mexican citizen living in Riverton, Utah, was initially charged in a complaint earlier this month and indicted by a federal grand jury last week.

According to court documents, on August 5, 2025, federal law enforcement agents assisted Taylorsville Police Department during an executed search warrant at a residence in Riverton. During the search of the residence, law enforcement seized approximately 51.7 pounds of methamphetamine, a stolen Glock 43X, 9mm pistol, and other illegal drugs. Each of the seized bags of methamphetamine contained approximately 2.1 pounds of methamphetamine.

Gonzalez is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. A three day jury trial is scheduled for November 3, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 3.4 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 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Taylorsville Police Department. Special assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Woolf of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (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. 
 

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