Federal Indictment Charges Three Individuals With Conspiracy To Distribute Cyclopropyl Fentanyl

SALT LAKE CITY – A federal grand jury returned a four-count superseding indictment Wednesday charging three individuals with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in the overdose death of an individual. According to the indictment, the controlled substance was cyclopropyl fentanyl, a synthetic opioid. 

Charged in the indictment, unsealed Friday afternoon, are Adam Hemmelgarn, age 37, of Hooper, Utah, Tyrell Jabbar Perry, age 20, of Roy, Utah, and Christian Scott Jimerson, age 19, of West Haven, Utah.  The three are also charged with distribution of cyclopropyl fentanyl.

The individual who died is identified as J.R. in the indictment.  Family members of J.R. have asked that his name, Jaydon Rogers, be released.  Rogers was found unresponsive in his residence in West Haven, Utah, on March 12, 2018, and transported to the hospital. He died March 14, 2018.  

In addition to the drug charges, Hemmelgarn is also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of firearms following a felony conviction. The indictment alleges Hemmelgarn had six firearms and associated ammunition in his possession.

Hemmelgarn was taken into custody Thursday. He had an initial appearance Friday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brooke C. Wells and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.  A detention hearing for Hemmelgarn was continued to Aug. 31, 2018.

Perry and Jimerson were initially charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of cyclopropyl fentanyl in a sealed indictment returned by a grand jury on Aug. 2, 2018.  A summons will be issued to both of them to appear on the charges in the superseding indictment. 

Indictments are not findings of guilt.  Individuals charged in indictments are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in court.

The potential maximum sentence for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance resulting in death is life in prison with a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence.  Possession of a firearm following a felony conviction has a maximum 10-year sentence and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense has a five-year mandatory minimum sentence, which would run consecutive to any sentence imposed for a drug offense. 

Agents, deputies, and officers of the DEA, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Weber County Sheriff’s Office, and the Davis County Metro Narcotics Task Force are investigating the case.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.