A federal judge on Tuesday signed an order allowing the sale of two vehicles and bitcoin that were seized by law enforcement agencies investigating an alleged multimillion-dollar opioid-drug trafficking ring that was based in a Cottonwood Heights basement.
Lawyers for the six defendants charged in the case have agreed to the sale, which was requested by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, according to court records.
The criminal charges are still pending against all defendants, but federal prosecutors — citing the $465 a month storage fees for the vehicles and the volatile market for bitcoin, which is an electronic currency — want to sell those assets now.