A drug case involving fentanyl distribution, a plea agreement, and immigration consequences has resulted in a short jail sentence and long-term probation for a West Jordan man.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing Details
Yerlin Abraham Valle-Gomez, age 24, formally admitted guilt on October 30 to distribution of a controlled substance, classified as a second-degree felony. As part of the plea agreement, he also agreed to surrender $2,128 to authorities.
Last week, a Second District Court judge sentenced Valle-Gomez to 120 days in jail. In addition, the court imposed a suspended prison term ranging from one to 15 years and placed him on three years of probation. This means that while he will not serve a lengthy prison sentence immediately, violations of probation could activate the longer term.
Immigration Conditions and Release Terms
Court records do not clearly state Valle-Gomez’s immigration or migratory status. However, the sentencing order allows for his release to Immigration and Customs Enforcement after he completes 90 days of his jail sentence.
The court also imposed strict conditions prohibiting him from entering the United States unlawfully or remaining in the country illegally. Prosecutors did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding his immigration status. Charging documents list his residence as West Jordan.
Original Charges Reduced Through Plea Deal
Initially, Valle-Gomez faced a much more serious accusation: fentanyl trafficking, a first-degree felony. That charge was reduced to distribution as part of negotiations between prosecutors and the defense, significantly lowering his potential prison exposure.
Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Seizure
According to investigators from the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force, Valle-Gomez was stopped in the Ogden area on October 16 after agents received a tip about his location.
During the traffic stop, officers searched his vehicle and reportedly discovered approximately 2,000 fentanyl pills. Police documents state that Valle-Gomez admitted he had driven to Ogden specifically to sell the fentanyl pills, a key factor supporting the distribution charge.
