By Sachet A. Carter | The Zion Times
Two Cedar City men are facing more than a dozen felony charges after a months-long investigation conducted by the Iron/Garfield/Beaver Narcotics Task Force.
David Alvarez-Aguilar, 19, and Grahm Michael Geisler, 18, were arrested and taken into custody May 6th following the execution of a search warrant at a residence near 184 North 500 West in Cedar City.
According to court documents filed in 5th District Court the investigation began in December 2025 after the mother of a juvenile girl contacted law enforcement alleging Alvarez had sold controlled substances to her daughter.
The mother reportedly provided investigators with screenshots of text conversations discussing a “dealer” allegedly capable of supplying multiple types of narcotics and stated he may be a student enrolled at Southern Utah University (S.U.U.)
According to the court documents, drug task force agents then contacted S.U.U Police, who confirmed Alvarez was enrolled as a student and that the address listed in his enrollment records matched the address investigators had identified early in the investigation.
Beginning in January 2026, task force agents reportedly conducted repeated surveillance operations on the residence. During those operations, agents observed Alvarez frequently traveling between his residence and the SUU campus and also documented multiple college-aged individuals regularly entering and leaving the home.
Investigators also reportedly observed a white Mazda 6 with temporary Utah registration parked at the residence on multiple occasions.
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlyOn Feb. 9th, task force agents allegedly observed two males leave the residence in the Mazda and travel to Southwest Technical College. An SUU officer was then requested to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle and were able to identify the occupants inside as Geisler and Alvarez.
The affidavits further state agents later observed Alvarez traveling to Las Vegas in a vehicle registered to a female with the same last name. Investigators reportedly confirmed the vehicle’s travel through Utah State Bureau of Investigation license plate reader data.
Following over a month of surveillance, task force agents began arranging controlled narcotics purchases through a confidential informant communicating with Alvarez via Instagram.
During those conversations Alvarez reportedly arranged a narcotics transaction on Feb. 10th but ultimately canceled the deal, telling the informant he had “fallen asleep.”
On Feb. 23rd, investigators were able to complete their first successful controlled purchase and allegedly used the informant to buy approximately one ounce of marijuana and two grams of psilocybin mushrooms from Alvarez which they reportedly captured on audio and video recordings
A second purchase was conducted on March 27th using the same informant. During that transaction, the confidential informant reportedly purchased approximately 31 grams of marijuana and 0.2 grams of MDMA.
During the March transaction, Alvarez allegedly invited the informant inside his residence, where Geisler was overheard discussing the location and quantity of narcotics being sold. During that operation Alvarez also allegedly told the informant he had obtained the narcotics from Las Vegas.
While inside the home, the informant also reportedly observed several large glass jars containing marijuana and witnessed another individual make a purchase from Alvarez during the same encounter.
On April 14th, investigators conducted another transaction using the informant and allegedly purchased approximately 29 grams of marijuana and additional MDMA.
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Following that transaction, an undercover task force agent separately established direct communication with Alvarez to arrange the purchase of cocaine.
During those conversations, the undercover agent arranged a cocaine purchase on April 27th in which investigators allege Geisler sold approximately 4.2 grams of cocaine while task force agents conducted surveillance nearby.
A second cocaine transaction was reportedly arranged on May 4th. According to the court documents, Geisler initially exited the residence to complete the sale, but after confusion regarding the weight of the narcotics, Alvarez allegedly came outside, entered the undercover agent’s vehicle and completed the exchange himself.
On May 5th, task force agents applied for and obtained a search warrant for the residence which they executed the following morning.
According to the court documents, at the time of the execution of the search warrants, law enforcement reportedly detained both Geisler and Alverez and allegedly located numerous narcotics, paraphernalia items and distribution materials throughout the residence.
Inside Alvarez’s bedroom, investigators reportedly located 127.3 grams of suspected marijuana, 4.7 grams of suspected cocaine, 13 grams of suspected psilocybin mushrooms, 42 THC vape cartridges, eight pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes, THC dab wax, a digital scale, empty capsules, packaging materials and numerous plastic baggies commonly associated with narcotics distribution.
Investigators also reported locating a black-and-brown AK-style firearm chambered in 7.62x39mm ammunition, an empty magazine and ammunition inside the bedroom.
Additional items allegedly recovered from common areas of the residence included another jar of THC dab wax, paraphernalia pipes, 33 nicotine vape cartridges, ammunition and 31 amphetamine pills.
The affidavit states 30 of the amphetamine pills were located inside a prescription bottle prescribed to Geisler, while additional pills were allegedly discovered inside small plastic bags investigators commonly associate with narcotics distribution.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, Alvarez allegedly told investigators he believed the narcotics found inside the residence were for “personal use.”
While speaking with task force agents Geisler denied broader involvement in narcotics distribution but admitted Alvarez would occasionally ask him to complete transactions.
with The Zion Times.
Alvarez faces 14 second-degree felony charges, including nine counts of distribution of a controlled substance and five counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is also charged with one third-degree felony count of prohibited dangerous weapon conduct, one class B misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one infraction count related to tobacco or e-cigarette possession.
Geisler is facing nine second-degree felony charges, including four counts of distribution of a controlled substance and five counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is also charged with one third-degree felony count of prohibited dangerous weapon conduct, one class B misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one infraction count related to tobacco or e-cigarette possession.
Both men were booked into the Iron County Jail following their arrests.
INDIVIDUALS LISTED ON THIS PAGE HAVE BEEN BOOKED INTO IRON COUNTY JAIL AND ARE ACCUSED OF THE FOLLOWING CRIMES BUT ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL AND UNLESS PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW.
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