Man convicted after trying to exchange fake money for drugs, killing dealer in 2022

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A man has been convicted of first-degree felony murder after shooting and killing another individual in 2022. At the time of the shooting, he was attempting to exchange fake movie money for drugs.

Alexis Federico Marquez, 24, was convicted in a jury trial this week on one count of first-degree felony murder, one count of first-degree felony aggravated robbery, and two counts of first-degree felony discharge of a firearm.

The jury trial started on September 10 and concluded on September 17, 2025. During the trial, the jury learned that, in 2022, Marquez had attempted to exchange $1300 worth of motion picture production money for cocaine from his victim, before shooting him.

Sentencing is currently set for January 6, 2026. Marquez is facing between five years to life in prison, according to Utah’s criminal penalties.

“We hope that this guilty conviction helps the family of Mr. Rowland feel like they have received some measure of justice for the death of their loved one. This verdict provides the accountability our community expects, and the victim’s family deserves,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill.

“We appreciate the hard work of our prosecutors, John Ham and Jeremy McKinney, as well as our support staff, through this difficult trial. Their dedication to this case, along with the thorough investigation conducted by the Draper Police Department, delivered this guilty verdict,” Gill added.

Case details

According to court documents, law enforcement responded to a call of shots fired at the Heritage Apartment Complex near 11715 South State Street in Draper on August 11, 2022, at approximately 1:18 a.m. When they arrived, they found an individual, later identified as 33-year-old Remey Rowland, laying in the parking lot with four bullet wounds.

Rowland, who was deceased by the time officers arrived, had been shot in the stomach, chest, head, and torso.

On the scene, officers observed a vehicle covered in blood, with bullet cases and fake money around the front passenger seat. Witnesses told law enforcement that they heard four or five shots and that they saw a male wearing a dark hoodie with a large white stripe fleeing the scene.

Detectives also recovered a video that showed Rowland getting out of his vehicle with a visible facial gunshot wound, before collapsing on the ground. With warrants, law enforcement collected cell information to and from Rowland’s phone.

Rowland’s girlfriend told police that he was planning to sell ‘white’ at the apartment complex the night before, but that he “felt weird about it” and returned home. On the night of the shooting, he decided to complete the transaction.

The cell information showed that Rowland had been texting Alexis Federico Marquez, then 24-years-old, and they had talked about meeting to exchange drugs and money. In those messages, Marquez told Rowland that he would be arriving to meet him shortly before the shooting was reported.

Detectives monitored Marquez’s address, at the Heritage Apartment Complex, and obtained a search warrant for the location and an arrest warrant for Marquez.

Marquez’s arrest

When officers served him the warrants, Marquez barricaded himself in a bathroom. leading to a lengthy standoff. Eventually, law enforcement was able to take him into custody.

In his apartment, officers recovered his cell phone, a fanny pack with bullets matching casings at the shooting, and a hoodie with a white stripe. They also recovered a pair of shoes with what appeared to be blood on them.

Marquez told law enforcement that he was with Rowland during the shooting, but that a close friend was the shooter. He also changed his story numerous times, before admitting that he was buying drugs from Rowland inside his vehicle.

He also admitted that he gave Rowland $2,000 in counterfeit $100 bills, later identified as motion picture production money, to purchase cocaine. Rowland was reportedly upset that the money was short and counterfeit.

At the time, Marquez told police that Rowland had reached down by the driver’s side door and that Marquez shot him, because he believed Rowland was grabbing a gun. He later said that Rowland saw the money, tried to grab it, and pointed a gun at Marquez. The supposed firearm was never recovered.

Law enforcement also learned that Marquez had told his mother where Rowland had been shot, before being taken into custody, which was not publicly released information at the time.