Home / Crime / Las Vegas Man Accused in Overdose, Drug, and Gun Case Loses Court Challenge

Las Vegas Man Accused in Overdose, Drug, and Gun Case Loses Court Challenge

Las Vegas Man Accused in Overdose, Drug, and Gun Case Loses Court Challenge

LAS VEGAS — A Clark County judge has denied a motion to dismiss gun-related charges against Jorge Miranda, an undocumented immigrant accused of selling fentanyl that led to a deadly overdose, after his defense team argued he had the constitutional right to bear arms.

District Court Judge Michelle Leavitt issued the ruling Monday, rejecting arguments from Miranda’s public defenders that state laws prohibiting undocumented immigrants from owning firearms violate the Second Amendment.

“Congress and the states enacted these restrictions based on the views that providing firearms to those who have not demonstrated allegiance to this nation might put weapons in the hands of those who would do the nation harm,” Leavitt wrote in her decision.

Miranda, 45, faces 17 felony charges, including second-degree murder, drug trafficking, and multiple weapons offenses, following a fatal overdose linked to fentanyl pills he allegedly sold last year. Detectives say Miranda sold fentanyl pills to a man who was later found dead at his parents’ home. Police posing as the victim set up another drug deal, leading to Miranda’s arrest in February 2024.

At the time of his arrest, Miranda was in possession of a firearm and had additional weapons, fentanyl, cocaine, and drug packaging materials at his Las Vegas home, according to prosecutors. Authorities also found more than $19,000 in cash.

Defense attorneys argued that Nevada’s law barring undocumented immigrants from possessing firearms is unconstitutional. Prosecutors, however, pushed back, citing Miranda’s criminal history, past deportation, and lack of legal status as grounds to deny Second Amendment protections.

Miranda has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 1997, including convictions for robbery, grand larceny, and drug offenses. He was previously deported in 2016 but returned to the U.S. illegally, authorities said.

ICE has placed a detainer on Miranda, and he remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center. His bail has been set at $250,000 with high-level electronic monitoring, pending a court-required source hearing to verify lawful origins of bail funds.

Miranda’s next court appearance is scheduled for August 6.

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