SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A convicted felon had his initial appearance today on two separate indictments, and will remain in custody. The defendant was arrested last month after allegedly committing mail robbery, and drug and gun crimes in the Spring of 2024 while on federal probation.
Andres “Junior” Garcia, 35, of Salt Lake City was indicted twice by a federal grand jury in June 2024 once for robbery of mail, and then for distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possession of firearms and ammunition. Since Garcia’s arrest, both indictments have been unsealed.
According to court documents, in February 2024, Garcia allegedly stole mail from a U.S. Postal Service van and threatened the postal worker when he confronted Garcia. As alleged, Garcia reached into his sweatshirt, as if he had a weapon, and told the postal worker to “get back.” Garcia then ran off with the mail. In the second case, in March 2024, on three separate occasions, Garcia allegedly sold 500 fentanyl pills, four ounces of methamphetamine and three firearms, including a Bersa Firestorm pistol, a Smith & Wesson M&P 9C pistol, and a Girsan MC 1911 S XLV pistol, and associated ammunition.
Garcia, a convicted felon, is restricted from possessing firearms and ammunition and was on felony probation at the time he allegedly committed these new offenses.
United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The cases are being investigated jointly by Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake, Metro Gang Unit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
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.