Las Vegas gang member attempts to escape custody in Cedar City while released on 12-hour furlough for funeral

CEDAR CITY, Utah (ABC4) — A known Las Vegas gang member is back in police custody after an attempted escape while he was released on a 12-hour furlough to attend a funeral.

Everardo Marquez, 33, is accused of stealing a car and failing to return to jail after the court-ordered furlough time expired.

class="wp-block-heading">Original charges

In early January 2025, agents with the Iron Garfield Beaver Narcotics Task Force conducted a weeks-long investigation into Marquez. Later that month, a “confidential informant” working with the task force purchased 4.4 grams of methamphetamine from Marquez, leading to his arrest on Jan. 29 at a gas station near the Cedar City Airport.

Police were able to track down and arrest Marquez. During the arrest, officers say they found photographs of a stolen VISA card.

Marquez would later plead guilty to a second-degree felony charge of drug distribution and a third-degree felony for unlawfully acquiring a financial card.

Weapons charges

Just months after his first Utah arrest, Marquez was stopped by SUU police during an incident near Smith’s grocery store in Cedar City. Officers later arrested him for allegedly providing a firearm to his 14-year-old nephew, who is believed to be in the same gang as Marquez.

Despite being booked on three felony charges and one misdemeanor charge, Marquez was only indicted for prohibited dangerous weapon conduct (a third-degree felony) and a misdemeanor charge.

The misdemeanor charge was dismissed with prejudice, while Marquez plead guilty to the dangerous weapon felony charge.

Furlough for a funeral

On July 18, 2025, Judge Matthew L. Bell of Utah’s Fifth District Court ordered Marquez be released the following day at 9 a.m. to attend the funeral of an immediate family member. He was ordered to return to the Iron County Jail by 9 p.m.

“Defendant is released to attend the funeral and to see to whatever affairs may be needed during that twelve-hour period,” the order reads.

By July 20, 2025, Marquez had yet to return to jail. Officers with Iron County Sheriff’s Office say they were informed Marquez had stolen a vehicle. Police began searching for him in areas where his girlfriend is known to work.

Police say they were able to locate him “hiding in the gym” of the Ramada Inn in Cedar City. Marquez’s blood tested positive for methamphetamine, court documents say.

It is unclear how the new charges will affect Marquez’s case.