Utah Man Arrested and Charged with Possession of Fentanyl with the Intent to Distribute

Salt Lake City, Utah – A Taylorsville man was arrested in Salt Lake County and indicted on criminal charges related to his alleged possession with the intent to distribute illicit drugs, specifically fentanyl.

According to court documents, Jesse Wood, 51, allegedly intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute forty (40) grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a schedule II controlled substance. Fentanyl is an incredibly dangerous synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. The fentanyl seized during the investigation was contained in brightly colored pills, known as “rainbow fentanyl,” and may be made by drug traffickers to look like candy to entice young people. The investigation is likely the first seizure of “rainbow fentanyl” in Utah and represents a significant safety risk to the public. (Picture of the rainbow fentanyl seized during the investigation are attached).

Wood is charged by indictment with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. He will have a detention hearing at a later date.

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Stephen L. Nelson, for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.

Learn more about the danger of illicit fentanyl at https://www.dea.gov/fentanylawareness or www.dea.gov/onepill.

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

Drug Enforcement Administration