Two Honduran nationals, Jorge Viera-Chirinos and Elmer Matute, have been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking offenses in the Bay Area. The sentences were handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer, with Viera-Chirinos receiving 40 months on March 5, 2025, and Matute receiving 36 months on March 12, 2025.
Viera-Chirinos was initially charged in July 2019 and later indicted along with 13 co-defendants for trafficking large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine in San Francisco. After fleeing to Honduras while released on bond in September 2020, he was extradited back to the United States in February 2024. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to drug distribution activities between June 2018 and August 2019.
Matute faced a federal indictment in December 2019 for possession with intent to distribute various drugs. Following his arrest and extradition from Honduras in February 2024, he admitted guilt to multiple possession charges stemming from a June 2018 search that uncovered significant quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine at his Richmond residence.
The announcements were made by Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and DEA Special Agent Bob P. Beris as part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative targeting illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts among law enforcement agencies.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs facilitated the extraditions with Honduran authorities' cooperation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sailaja M. Paidipaty and Dan M. Karmel led the prosecutions following investigations conducted by the DEA.