District of Idaho

Defendant also Possessed 2,000 Rounds of Ammunition

BOISE – Jason Earl Wright, 39, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to 42 months in prison for unlawfully possessing fourteen firearms and 2,000 rounds of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also sentenced Wright to three years of supervised release and 100 hours of community service. He pleaded guilty to the offense on November 17, 2013.

According to court documents, Wright admitted to attempting to purchase a scope mount for an SKS assault rifle on Craigslist. According to a sentencing memorandum filed by the government, a federal search warrant was served on Wright’s residence, and it was discovered that he was in possession of four assault weapons capable of accepting large capacity magazines, four .22 rifles, two 30.06 rifles, two .40 pistols, one 6.5 x 50 millimeter rifle, and one shotgun. Wright was also in possession of twelve high capacity SKS magazines, sixteen .22 rifle magazines, and several thousand rounds of ammunition.

Wright had previously been convicted of twenty prior offenses, including two felony drug trafficking offenses, domestic assault, battery and carrying a concealed weapon.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and was prosecuted as part of Idaho’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, which seeks to reduce gun violence in Idaho.

Defendant One of Eleven Indicted in Gun and Drug Trafficking Case

BOISE – Bobbi Eileen Woolsey, 36, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States District Court to 84 months in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Woolsey to serve five years of supervised release. She pleaded guilty to the charge on December 2, 2013.

According to information presented in court, Woolsey admitted to conspiring with co-defendants to distribute methamphetamine. Woolsey has two prior felony convictions for possession of methamphetamine and accessory to a felony. She was on probation for those crimes at the time she committed the drug trafficking offenses in this case.

Woolsey’s co-defendants, Jeramie Ethan Mahler of Star, Idaho, and Carlos Eberardo Tovar of Nampa, Idaho, pleaded guilty yesterday to related drug trafficking charges. Mahler also pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. A federal grand jury indicted Woolsey, Mahler, Tovar and eight other defendants on July 9, 2013. The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired together to distribute methamphetamine. It also contains additional charges alleging distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of cocaine, and unlawful possession of a firearm. All of the defendants have pleaded guilty; nine are awaiting sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, which is comprised of federal, state and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Boise Police Department; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and Idaho Department of Probation and Parole. Other agencies that contributed to this investigation include the Drug Enforcement Administration, Nampa Police Department, Caldwell Police Department, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and Ada County Sheriff’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. Since 2007, over 255 defendants have been prosecuted in Federal Court through the Gang SAUSA program. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit treasurevalleypartners.org.

BOISE – David Everett McAllister, 30, of Payette, Idaho, pleaded guilty today to unlawful possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. McAllister was indicted by a federal grand Jury in Boise on November 13, 2013.

According to the plea agreement, McAllister admitted that on October 15, 2013, he possessed three firearms, including a 9-millimeter pistol, a .30-06 rifle, and .22 rifle. At the time McAllister was in possession of the firearms, he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison. McAllister was previously convicted of statutory rape in Canyon County, Idaho.

The charge of unlawful possession of firearms is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set for May 19, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.

The case was investigated by the High Desert Task Force, Payette County Sheriff’s Office, and the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The case was prosecuted as part of Idaho’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, which seeks to reduce gun violence in Idaho.

Star Man Admits Shooting Person in Furtherance of the Drug Trafficking Crime

BOISE – Jeramie Ethan Mahler, 27, of Star, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and another count that he discharged a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

According to the plea agreement and information presented in court, Mahler admitted that he and other co-defendants agreed to distribute methamphetamine beginning in approximately January 2013. Mahler and others continued to distribute methamphetamine for several months. Mahler admitted that on March 25, 2013, he shot another person during a dispute with that person about the quality of the methamphetamine. The shooting occurred alongside a road in south Ada County near Amity and Linder roads. Mahler and two co-defendants fled the scene leaving the injured man behind. Eight days later, on April 2, a Canyon County Sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle that Mahler was driving. Mahler was arrested and the vehicle was searched. Inside, deputies found two handguns and approximately one-quarter pound of methamphetamine. A forensic examination later confirmed that one of the handguns located in the vehicle was the same gun used in the shooting on March 25.

The charge of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine is punishable by a minimum term of ten years and a maximum of life in prison, a maximum fine of $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release. Discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is punishable by a minimum term of ten years up to life in prison and must be imposed consecutively to the other sentence, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release.

Co-defendant Carlos Eberardo Tovar, 29, of Nampa, also pleaded guilty today to two counts of distributing methamphetamine. Tovar admitted that he sold methamphetamine to an undercover police officer on several occasions. The charge of distributing methamphetamine is punishable by up to twenty years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and at least three years of supervised release.

Mahler and Tovar are scheduled to be sentenced on May 20, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.

A federal grand jury indicted Mahler, Tovar and nine other defendants on July 9, 2013. The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired together to distribute methamphetamine. It also contains additional charges alleging distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of cocaine, and unlawful possession of a firearm. All eleven defendants have pleaded guilty.

Co-defendant Bobbi Eileen Woolsey, 36, of Boise, is set for sentencing tomorrow for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. She pleaded guilty to the charge on December 2, 2013.

Olson noted that when Mahler is sentenced in May, he will be at least the ninth person to be sentenced in the District of Idaho on both drug and gun charges this year. “Drugs and guns are a dangerous combination,” said Olson. “In Idaho, federal law enforcement officers in conjunction with their state and local partners, vigorously investigate dangerous persons who use and possess firearms in violation of federal gun laws. Our goal is simple: to keep guns away from violent individuals and to keep our community safe.”

Olson also stated that so far in 2014, five other persons had been sentenced for or pleaded guilty to federal statutes that prohibit possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or possession of an unlawful firearm such as a sawed-off shotgun. In 2013, seven defendants were sentenced in Idaho federal courts on both drug and gun charges; nineteen for being prohibited persons in possession of a firearm; eight for possessing unlawful and unregistered weapons; eight for using firearms in crimes of violence; and one for stealing firearms. In 2012, ten defendants were sentenced in Idaho federal courts on both drug and gun charges; twenty-four for being prohibited persons in possession of a firearm; five for possessing unlawful and unregistered weapons; ten for using firearms in crimes of violence; and two for stealing firearms. According to Olson, all of these cases involved either the joint investigative efforts of federal and state or tribal law enforcement or the investigative efforts of federally sponsored task forces that include state, local and tribal law enforcement officers.

“The coordination and cooperation of federal, state and local law enforcement officers is critical to proper and effective enforcement of laws that keep bad guys off of ours streets, and guns and drugs out of their hands,” said Olson. “I commend in this case the outstanding work of the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force and Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Atwood.”

The case was investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, which is comprised of federal, state and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Boise Police Department; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and Idaho Department of Probation and Parole. Other agencies that contributed to this investigation include the Drug Enforcement Administration, Nampa Police Department, Caldwell Police Department, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and Ada County Sheriff’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. Since 2007, over 255 defendants have been prosecuted in Federal Court through the Gang SAUSA program. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit treasurevalleypartners.org.

Court Orders Forfeiture of Over $3 Million in Fraud Proceeds

BOISE – Elaine Martin, 67, of Meridian, Idaho, the former president and majority stockholder of MarCon, Inc., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy, wire fraud and mail fraud, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson and Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division Kathryn Keneally announced. Martin was also sentenced to 24 months in prison for tax fraud and obstruction of justice followed by three years of supervised release. The sentences will run concurrent.

Judge Winmill ordered Martin to pay restitution of $98,825.20 to the Internal Revenue Service and $32,575.28 to the Idaho DBE Program. She was also ordered to pay costs of prosecution in the amount of $22,859.60.

The United States and the defendant entered into an agreement this week in which they stipulated that the correct forfeiture amount is $3,084,038.05. Martin paid the full amount via wire transfer to a U.S. Treasury account before sentencing.

Martin was convicted by a federal jury on September 19, 2013, of 22 criminal counts, including four counts of filing false individual and corporate tax returns, two counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States, five counts of wire fraud, five counts of mail fraud, one count of false statement, three counts of interstate transportation of property taken by fraud, one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice and one count of obstruction of justice.

“Elaine Martin’s conviction, sentence and forfeiture of more than $3 million clearly demonstrates that fraud and misrepresentations to government programs is the wrong way to run a business,” said Olson. “This office, indeed the entire Department of Justice, along with its law enforcement partners are committed to rooting out greed and dishonesty in government contracting. I commend the thorough efforts of the dedicated attorneys and agents involved in this case.”

Martin’s co-defendant, Darrell Swigert, 68, of Boise, a minority shareholder in MarCon, was found guilty of two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19, 2014.

During the 26-day trial, the jury heard evidence that as early as 1997, Martin concealed a portion of MarCon’s business income by diverting customer payments for the sales of used materials into a separate bank account. Martin did not tell MarCon’s external accountant about the bank account or the unreported sales, and in fact organized the company’s business affairs to help conceal these sales from the external accountant, such as by personally overseeing the sales and invoicing of used materials, deleting call logs for these sales, and tracking the sales using a separate set of books. The jury also heard that Martin boasted about her failure to pay taxes on this income, referring to the separate bank account with the unreported income as a “slush fund.” When the IRS initiated a civil audit, Martin lied to the IRS revenue agent and told him that all business income was reported on MarCon’s tax returns. The evidence at trial, however, showed that neither MarCon nor Martin reported the income they received from the used material sales on their tax returns from 1997 through at least 2006.

The jury also heard evidence during trial that as early as 2000, Martin submitted false and fraudulent applications to have her construction company, MarCon, admitted and/or remain in two different federally funded programs, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) Program, and the Department of Transportation Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. Both programs are designed to help economically and socially disadvantaged businesses compete in the marketplace. To be admitted into the program, the owner/shareholder that qualifies as socially disadvantaged must also demonstrate economic disadvantage, in part by having a personal net worth below a certain statutory cap.

According to evidence presented at trial, Martin took steps to artificially lower her personal net worth, such as by failing to report all of her income from MarCon, causing MarCon to pay for personal expenses such as renovations and landscaping for her home, and acquiring, holding and transferring assets into the names of nominees in order to appear to be economically disadvantaged. This allowed Martin’s construction firm, MarCon, to qualify for the DBE and SBA 8(a) programs. Martin also caused false and fraudulent tax returns to be filed for herself and MarCon, Inc., which did not report all of the income received by Martin or the company. The false returns were submitted in support of MarCon’s applications to the SBA 8(a) Program and DBE Programs for Idaho and Utah, along with false personal financial statements. The government presented evidence that Martin omitted, deleted, altered and mis-categorized entries in MarCon’s financial books and records. Martin also concealed her role or relationship in other business entities that dealt with MarCon, Inc.

The jury heard evidence that MarCon received more than $2.5 million in government contracts based on the company’s fraudulently obtained SBA 8(a) status, and that MarCon received more than $15 million in government contracts based on the company’s fraudulently obtained DBE status in the states of Idaho and Utah.

The government presented evidence that in order to impede an IRS audit of MarCon and criminal investigation into Martin, Martin and Swigert conspired to obstruct justice by fabricating documents and making false statements that sought to conceal the true nature, source, and extent of property belonging to Martin.

“Today’s sentence should be a warning to those who seek to gain preference for federal contracting opportunities through deceit and lies,” said Inspector General Peggy E. Gustafson of the Small Business Administration. “Those who take part in such activity will pay the price for their crimes. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their commitment to seek justice on behalf of the American taxpayer.”

“Tax evasion is not a victimless crime,” said Stephen Boyd, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge for the State of Idaho. “Individuals who corruptly violate the law to further their business interests and intentionally evade paying their fair share of taxes undermine public confidence in our tax system and unfairly disadvantage businesses that play by the rules. As Martin and Swigert have discovered, operating outside the law and failing to pay taxes have severe consequences.”

“As evidenced by today’s sentencing, severe penalties await those that would seek to defraud DOT’s DBE Program,” said William Swallow, regional Special Agent-in-Charge of the DOT’s Office of Inspector General. “DBE fraud harms the integrity of the program and adversely impacts law-abiding, small business contractors trying to compete on a level playing field. Working with the Secretary of Transportation and other DOT leaders, and our law enforcement and prosecutorial colleagues, we will continue to protect the taxpayers’ investment in our nation’s infrastructure from fraud, waste, abuse and violations of law.”

The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Today's announcement is part of an effort by President Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF), created in November 2009, to combat financial fraud crimes by waging aggressive, coordinated and proactive investigations and prosecutions. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys' offices and state and local partners, the task force is the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,700 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.

Co-Defendant Pleads Guilty to Related Charges

BOISE – Wendy Demirdjian Harrison, 53, of Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Harrison to serve five years of supervised release. She pleaded guilty to the charge on November 18, 2013.

According to court documents and Harrison’s admission in court, beginning in November 2012, she conspired with others, including her co-defendants, to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.

Harrison’s co-defendant, Juan Luis Mojica-Barragan, 24, of Nyssa, Oregon, pleaded guilty today to an information charging him with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

According to Mojica’s plea agreement, on February 20, 2013, an undercover police officer met with Mojica and co-defendant Hernan Gomez-Gutierrez at a restaurant in Nampa to discuss methamphetamine transactions. Gomez-Gutierrez offered to sell cocaine to the officer and offered to provide a sample. Mojica was present during the conversation. After they left the restaurant, the officer followed Gomez-Gutierrez and Mojica to a residence where Mojica retrieved a clear plastic bag containing a white powdery substance. Gomez-Gutierrez separated a portion of the substance and provided it to the officer. Testing by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) laboratory determined the substance weighed 1.1 grams and contained cocaine. According to the plea agreement, Gomez-Gutierrez recruited others to help him distribute methamphetamine, including other co-defendants. Mojica participated in the distribution of methamphetamine. Another co-defendant told law enforcement agents that she met with Gomez-Gutierrez and Mojica at the restaurant in Nampa on several occasions in February 2013, where Mojica provided her with approximately eight ounces of methamphetamine during those meetings.

Mojica-Barragan faces up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and at least three years of supervised release. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21, 2014.

A federal grand jury indicted Harrison, Mojica-Barragan and nine other defendants on July 9, 2013. The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired together to distribute methamphetamine. It also contains additional charges alleging distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of cocaine, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Nine of the defendants have pleaded guilty. Two co-defendants, Jeramie Ethan Mahler, 27, of Star, Idaho, and Carlos Eberardo Tovar, 29, of Nampa, are scheduled to enter guilty pleas next week to related drug trafficking and firearms charges. Co-defendant Bobbi Eileen Woolsey, 36, of Boise, is set for sentencing on March 4, also for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

The case was investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, with assistance from the Nampa Police Department. The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force is comprised of federal, state and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Boise Police Department; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and Idaho Department of Probation and Parole.

The case is being prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit treasurevalleypartners.org.

POCATELLO — Austin Del Broncho-Timbana, 21, of Fort Hall, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to abusive sexual contact, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Broncho-Timbana was charged by information on January 17, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, Broncho-Timbana admitted that on January 20, 2013, he had abusive sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl at a residence on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. According to the plea agreement, a relative contacted police after finding the girl partially unclothed in a back bedroom. Broncho-Timbana left the house through the bedroom window. He was later contacted by police at his home.

Broncho-Timbana faces up to two years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000.00, and five years to lifetime supervised release.

Sentencing is set for May 20, 2014, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The case was investigated by the Fort Hall Police Department.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

POCATELLO – Ian Jack Crooked Arm, a/k/a Ian Sittre, 26, of Fort Hall, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to one count of involuntary manslaughter, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

According to the plea agreement, on February 20, 2013, a 10-month-old infant girl was left in Sittre’s care when the child’s mother went to work. Sittre was living with the mother and other family members at a residence on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. Less than ten minutes after leaving, Sittre called the child’s mother and told her something was wrong with the baby. Upon arriving at the residence, Sittre told the mother that the baby was “breathing funny.” She called 911 and attempted CPR. Sittre left the residence before paramedics or police arrived. Paramedics transported the child by ambulance to Portneuf Medical Center, unconscious and non-responsive. She was then airlifted to Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, in critical condition. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, the infant died on February 22, 2013.

According to the plea agreement, an autopsy conducted on February 23 concluded that the immediate cause of death was abusive head trauma inflicted by a caregiver. A review of the child’s medical history found nothing to indicate any pre-existing conditions that may have contributed to the child’s death. According to the plea agreement, on April 4, 2013, during a recorded telephone call between Sittre and his mother, from jail, Sittre admitted that he shook the baby “too hard.”

The charge of involuntary manslaughter is punishable by up to eight years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

Sittre is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21, 2014, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The case was investigated by the Fort Hall Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Two Plead Guilty in Boise County Marijuana Grow Case

BOISE — Carlos Cerda-Carpio, 40, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty today in federal court to unlawfully manufacturing more than 1,000 marijuana plants with intent to distribute and illegal possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. A co-defendant, Mariah Villasenor-Rodriguez, 22, of Caldwell, Idaho, pleaded guilty to related charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Both defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale at the federal courthouse in Boise.

According to the plea agreements, on September 11, 2013, law enforcement conducted enforcement actions on an outdoor marijuana growing operation in the Boise National Forest, a few miles from Highway 21 in Boise County. Cerda-Carpio, along with co-defendants Marcos Solano-Farias and Jose Misael Ayala-Talavera, was apprehended by the officers at a camp located next to a marijuana grow site on Rabbit Creek, with 1,411 live plants as well as harvested marijuana. According to the plea agreements, investigators found and seized two semi-automatic handguns, an AK-47 type rifle, in the camp, and several hundred marijuana plants that had already been harvested from the growing operation. Investigators located and eradicated all live marijuana plants. A few days later, law enforcement took down a related grow site at Little Beaver Creek, where they removed 5,463 marijuana plants.

According to Villasenor-Rodriguez’s plea agreement, more than 100 kilos of harvested and packaged marijuana was found at the house she shared with her husband, lead co-defendant Juan Pablo Villasenor-Villa, and in another house in Caldwell.

Cerda-Carpio and five co-defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on October 9, 2013, on charges of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and injury to federal public lands. Juan Pablo Villasenor-Villa is currently set for trial on July 21, 2014. Gilberto Duran-Contreras is scheduled to plead guilty on March 3, 2014. Marcos Solano-Farias and Jose Misael Ayala-Talavera pleaded guilty on February 13, 2014, to related charges; sentencing is set for May 14.

The charge of manufacturing more than 1,000 marijuana plants with intent to distribute carries a penalty of not less than ten years up to life in prison, a maximum fine of $10 million, and five years of supervised release. The charges of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person—an undocumented alien—and injury to government property are each punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. The charge of possession of more than 100 kilos of marijuana with intent to distribute carries a penalty of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a maximum fine of $5 million, and five years of supervised release.

Villasenor-Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced on May 14, and Cerda-Carpio on May 15, 2014, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

“Vigorous prosecution of those who grow illegal drugs on federal land is a high priority of this office,” said Olson. “Those who operate marijuana grows not only traffic in illegal drugs, but they also damage wildlife and the environment and, through their possession and possible use of firearms, pose a significant danger to all Idahoans who seek to use our national forests for hiking, hunting and recreation purposes.” Olson noted that Cerda-Carpia is the eighth defendant in 2014 to plead guilty or be sentenced in Idaho on federal drug trafficking charges that also involved the unlawful use, possession or sale of firearms. “Drugs and guns are a dangerous and often violent combination,” Olson said. “Today’s guilty pleas demonstrate that federal gun laws are carefully targeted at those who use or possess firearms for unlawful purposes.”

The case is the result of a joint investigation result of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which included the cooperative law enforcement efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Land Management, and United States Forest Service, with assistance from the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Boise County Sheriff’s Office, Boise Police Department, City County Narcotics Unit (Canyon County Sheriff’s Office and Caldwell Police Department), the Idaho National Guard, Meridian Police Department, Nampa Police Department, Spokane Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Washington State Police.

The OCDETF program is a federal, multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

POCATELLO – Sammy Joe Aguirre, 27, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States District Court to 96 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Aguirre to serve three years of supervised release and perform 100 hours of community service following his release from prison. Aguirre pleaded guilty to the charge on November 19, 2013.

According to the plea agreement, on March 21, 2013, law enforcement officers observed Aguirre traveling from Idaho Falls to Rupert, Idaho, where he obtained approximately one pound of methamphetamine. While transporting the methamphetamine back to eastern Idaho, Aguirre’s vehicle was stopped, he was arrested and law enforcement seized the methamphetamine. Aguirre admitted in court that he obtained the methamphetamine with the intention of distributing it to others.

Aguirre’s co-defendant, Emilio Raymond Martinez, of Rigby, Idaho, was sentenced in January 2014 to 80 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on February 26, 2013, during execution of a search warrant at a residence in Bonneville County, officers found Martinez in possession of methamphetamine, which he intended to distribute, and paraphernalia.

The case is the result of a joint investigation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), led by the Idaho State Police, with assistance from the Idaho Falls Police Department and Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office. Other federal agencies participating in the OCEDTF program include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Marshals Service.

The OCDETF program is a federal, multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

POCATELLO – Scottie Lee Hill, 35, of Pocatello, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States District Court for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. The defendant appeared before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Pocatello. Judge Lodge sentenced Hill to 48 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered him to complete 100 hours of community service. Hill pleaded guilty to the charge on September 30, 2013.

According to the plea agreement, on September 24, 2012, Hill went to a location in south Pocatello, in Bannock County, Idaho. Hill admitted that he went to this location in possession of methamphetamine, which he intended to distribute. Additionally, Hill possessed a firearm during this time period.

The case was investigated by the Idaho State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

POCATELLO – Lyle Plentywounds, Sr., 58, of Pocatello, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States District Court to 18 months in prison for assaulting an officer on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Plentywounds to serve three years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to the charge on November 26, 2013.

According to the plea agreement, on May 2, 2013, a Fort Hall Police officer responded to a report that Plentywounds was intoxicated and creating a disturbance at a residence on the reservation. After making contact and determining that Plentywounds was in fact intoxicated, the officer attempted to gain entry to the residence but was blocked by the defendant. Plentywounds told the officer he was a martial artist and an ex-convict and that he “hated cops. He then kicked the officer in the chest. When the officer attempted to arrest him, Plentywounds struck him in the face with his hand.

The case was investigated by the Fort Hall Police Department.

Defendants Admit Transporting More Than 50 Pounds of Meth from California to Minnesota

POCATELLO – Sergio Javier Varela-Vallecillo, 30, and his wife, Felicia Inez Varela, 29, of Navasota, Texas, were sentenced today in United States District Court for possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. The defendants appeared before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

Varela-Vallecillo, a Honduran national, was sentenced to 70 months in prison; he will be deported following his release. Felicia Varela was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. The defendants pleaded guilty to the one-count indictment on November 26, 2013. The government is seeking forfeiture of assets derived from the offense conduct.

According to plea agreements filed in the case, on March 9, 2013, the defendants were stopped by an Idaho State Police trooper while traveling in a U-Haul truck on U.S. Highway 20 in Idaho Falls. In the back of the truck, officers found approximately 50 pounds of methamphetamine and a large quantity of cocaine. The defendants admitted they knew the substance they were transporting was methamphetamine and they were transporting it from California to Minnesota with the intention of delivering it to another individual in Minnesota.

The case was investigated by Idaho State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

BOISE – Skinner “Skip” Anderson, II, 57, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced today for misprision of a felony, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Anderson appeared before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Boise. Judge Winmill sentenced Anderson to a one year term of probation, fined him $2500, and ordered him to complete 120 hours of community service.

Anderson pleaded guilty on December 9, 2013, to a one-count information. He admitted to having knowledge of the illegal gambling operation owned by Kings Santy that was being run out of a house he owns located at 6655 W. Victory Road in Boise. Anderson further admitted to taking steps to conceal the illegal gambling operation and not reporting it to the proper authorities. The property on Victory Road was also used as a clubhouse for the Red Warriors Motorcycle Club, which is affiliated with the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Anderson previously served as the treasurer for the Red Warriors. Because of Anderson’s involvement with Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, Judge Winmill ordered as a condition of probation that he not have any contact with documented gang members or gang paraphernalia.

In a related case, Kings Santy pleaded guilty on February 3, 2014, to operating an illegal gambling business. Santy faces up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and not more than three years of supervised release. Sentencing for Santy is set for April 21, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge.

In a separate civil proceeding, the United States is seeking forfeiture of the residence where the illegal gambling operation occurred.

This case was investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force. The task force is comprised of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boise Police Department, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Caldwell Police Department, Nampa Police Department, Meridian Police Department, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho Department of Correction. The Metro Task Force was assisted by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.

BOISE — Marcos Solano-Farias, 32, and Jose Misael Ayala-Talavera, 20, both Mexican nationals, pleaded guilty today to charges of unlawful manufacture with intent to distribute more than 1,000 marijuana plants, illegal possession of a firearm, and damage to government property, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. The men appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald E. Bush at the federal courthouse in Boise.

According to the plea agreements, on September 11, 2013, law enforcement conducted enforcement actions on two outdoor marijuana growing operations in the Boise National Forest, a few miles from Highway 21 in Boise County. Solano-Farias, and Ayala-Talavera were apprehended by law enforcement at a camp located next to a marijuana grow site on Rabbit Creek, with 1,411 live plants as well as harvested marijuana. According to the plea agreements, investigators found and seized two semi-automatic handguns, an SKS or AK-47 type rifle, in the camp, and several hundred marijuana plants that had already been harvested from the growing operation. Investigators located and eradicated all live marijuana plants. Law enforcement also found a related grow site at Beaver Creek, where they removed 5,463 marijuana plants.

Solano-Farias and Ayala-Talavera, along with four co-defendants, were indicted by a federal grand jury on October 9, 2013, on charges of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and injury to federal public lands. Juan Pablo Villasenor-Villa, Gilberto Contreras, and Carlos Cerdo-Carpia are currently set for trial on March 17, 2014. Mariah Villasenor-Rodriguez, of Caldwell, Idaho, is scheduled to plead guilty on February 24, 2014, to an information charging her with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

“Vigorous prosecution of those who grow illegal drugs on federal land is a high priority of this office,” said Olson. “Those who operate marijuana grows not only traffic in illegal drugs, but they also damage wildlife and the environment and, through their possession and possible use of firearms, pose a significant danger to all Idahoans who seek to use our national forests for hiking, hunting and recreation purposes.” Olson noted that Solano-Farias and Ayala-Talavera are the sixth and seventh defendants in 2014 to plead guilty or be sentenced in Idaho on federal drug trafficking charges that also involved the unlawful use, possession or sale of firearms. “Drugs and guns are a dangerous and often violent combination,” Olson said. “Today’s guilty pleas demonstrate that federal gun laws are carefully targeted at those who use or possess firearms for unlawful purposes.”

The charge of manufacturing more than 1,000 marijuana plants with intent to distribute carries a penalty of not less than ten years up to life in prison, a maximum fine of $10 million, and up to five years of supervised release.

The charges of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person—an undocumented alien—and injury to government property are each punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

Solano-Farias and Ayala-Talavera are scheduled to be sentenced on May 14, 2014, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

The case is the result of a joint investigation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which included the cooperative law enforcement efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Land Management, and United States Forest Service, with assistance from the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Boise County Sheriff’s Office, Boise Police Department, City County Narcotics Unit (Canyon County Sheriff’s Office and Caldwell Police Department), the Idaho National Guard, Meridian Police Department, Nampa Police Department, Spokane Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Washington State Police.

The OCDETF program is a federal, multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

Defendant Falsely Represented Herself as Immigration Attorney to Collect “Fines and Fees” from Victims

BOISE – Celia Perez, 40, of Jerome, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to two counts of using the mail to execute an immigration services fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

According to the plea agreement, Perez admitted that she falsely represented herself as an immigration attorney and solicited fees from clients for immigration services that she never provided. The scheme ran from 2006 through 2013. As part of the scheme to defraud, Perez sent her clients invoices requesting money for “fines and fees,” that she claimed were due and owing to various U.S. Government agencies for immigration benefits applications. The clients then sent money, by certified checks and money orders, to Perez at her U.S. Post Office Box in Wendell, Idaho, through the use of the U.S. Mail. Perez never filed any applications for immigration benefits with any U.S. Government agencies, nor were any fines or fees ever owed by the clients for immigration benefits applications. Rather, Perez used the money paid by the clients for her own purposes.

According to the plea agreement, during the investigation, Perez voluntarily met with agents of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations and admitted that she had engaged in the fraud scheme for several years. Perez further admitted that she obtained money from victims identified in the plea agreement, but did not pay any fines or fees to U.S. Government agencies as she had represented. Instead she used the money for her own purposes. Perez admitted that the amount of loss resulting from her fraud scheme is greater than $300,000, but less than $400,000. Perez also admitted that she opened approximately 12 credit card accounts, and obtained a student loan in the name of a relative. The government is seeking forfeiture of assets and restitution for victims of the fraud.

“Ms. Perez took advantage of those who dreamed of U.S. citizenship,” said Olson. “She took their money but was never in a position to assist them in obtaining immigration benefits. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners are committed to vigorously pursuing this kind of fraud. We are committed to protecting the integrity of the United States immigration system and those who lawfully seek benefits through that system.”

Anyone who wants to notify the government that he or she was a victim of Celia Perez’s fraud scheme should send a written statement, with details and supporting documents, to Special Agent Richard Cross, Homeland Security Investigations, at 1185 S. Vinnell Way, Boise, Idaho 83709-1656.

Each count of mail fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set for April 29, 2014, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill, at the federal courthouse in Boise.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

Defendant and Four Others Admitted to Distributing Approx. 130 Pounds of Meth

BOISE – U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today that Ausencio Gonzalez Tovar, 48, a Mexican national living in Star, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to 188 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Tovar appeared before Senior U.S. District Judge William Fremming Nielsen of the Eastern District of Washington. Tovar was also ordered to forfeit $100,000 in proceeds derived from the drug trafficking offense and $18,400 in seized currency. He will be deported to Mexico after serving his prison sentence.

Tovar pleaded guilty to the charge on October 2, 2013. According to court proceedings, he was arrested on April 3, 2013, and was found to be in possession of 1.7 kilograms of pure methamphetamine and a firearm. The government argued at sentencing that Tovar was responsible for distributing approximately 130 pounds of high purity methamphetamine between October 2012 and April 2013.

Four co-defendants from the Treasure Valley were sentenced to prison earlier for their role in the conspiracy. Michael Scott Longhi was sentenced to 188 months in prison; Samantha Jo Tackitt to 151 months; Darin James Bangham to 87 months; and Ashley Marie Armstrong to 51 months.

The case was investigated by the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Meridian Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration.

BOISE — U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today that Patrick S. Baker, 50, of Caldwell, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States District Court to 12 months and one day in prison. Baker pleaded guilty on November 21, 2013, to possessing obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. U.S. District Judge William Fremming Nielsen, from the Eastern District of Washington, also ordered Baker to be on supervised release for three years after his release from prison, and to participate in sex offender treatment. Baker was also ordered to forfeit the laptop computer used in the offense.

According to the plea agreement, officers from the Nampa Police Department responded to the Hilton Inn in Nampa, Idaho, on March 14, 2013, in response to a request from hotel management to remove a guest who had overstayed the contracted time. Officers discovered Baker in the room. He had checked in the previous night and used the hotel’s wireless Internet service to download hundreds of images of child erotica and at least 36 realistic-looking digitally created images depicting prepubescent minors engaged in various sexual acts with adults, according to the plea agreement. Investigators also found several images of minor females, most approximately ages 3 to 12 years, in various kinds of dress, posing in ways to bring attention to their genital or pubic area. Baker admitted that he had downloaded the images and that he had a long-standing addiction to pornography, including adults and children.

The case was investigated by the Nampa Police Department, an affiliate of the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). The ICAC is a statewide coalition of local, state and federal law enforcement and prosecution agencies, focused on apprehending and prosecuting individuals who use the Internet to criminally exploit children. For more information about the Idaho ICAC Task Force and a list of all the participating agencies, visit www.icacidaho.org.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

Judge Revokes Defendant’s U.S. Citizenship

BOISE –Simona Rus, 36, of Ketchum, Idaho, was sentenced today to two years’ probation for unlawful procurement of United States Citizenship based on her fraudulent marriage to a United States citizen, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also revoked Rus’ citizenship and cancelled her certificate of naturalization. She pleaded guilty to the charge on November 18, 2013.

According to the plea agreement filed in the case, Rus admitted that she entered into a false marriage with a United States citizen in 2003 for the sole purpose of obtaining immigration benefits. Rus admitted that she never had a husband-and-wife relationship with her American “spouse” in the contrived marriage. In January 2009, Rus misrepresented the nature of her marriage in an application for naturalization to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Based on her fraudulent application, USCIS granted Rus naturalization as a United States citizen.

“By gaming the immigration system, Rus ultimately cheated herself out of the American dream,” said Brad Bench, special agent in charge of HSI Seattle, who oversees Idaho investigations. “The outcome of this case clearly demonstrates that our nation's immigration laws are to be respected, not ignored.”

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Defendants Charged with Multiple Counts of Conspiring to Distribute “Spice,” Money Laundering, Smuggling

BOISE – Troy Palmer, 43, of Boise, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to count four of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to launder money, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Sentencing is set for May 5, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.

Palmer admitted in court that beginning in March 2011, he knowingly entered into a conspiracy with Mark Ciccarello, William Mabry, and Robert Eoff to conduct financial transactions in connection with a “spice” manufacturing and distribution business. Palmer also admitted to knowingly participating and assisting in the financial activity of the business by engaging in financial transactions through both domestic and foreign financial institutions. The transactions consisted of the proceeds of prior illegal spice sales and other specified unlawful activity. In many cases, the transactions conducted through financial institutions separately consisted of criminally derived property valued at more than $10,000; most of the transactions occurred in Idaho, Washington and California.

Eoff, Mabry and Ciccarello previously entered guilty pleas to the same charge. Judge Lodge will sentence Eoff on March 11, 2014, and Mabry and Ciccarello on March 25.

The charge of conspiracy to launder money is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater, and up to three years of supervised release.

Palmer and his three co-defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 14, 2013, on charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue; conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States; conspiracy to sell and transport drug paraphernalia; and conspiracy to launder money. The indictment alleged that between March 1, 2011 and July 9, 2012, in Idaho, Alaska, California, Washington, and Wisconsin, the defendants conspired to purchase and import from China chemicals known as AM2201, UR-144, and XLR11, which they used to treat innocuous plant matter to make “spice”—a synthetic cannabinoid similar to substances listed in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. The indictment further alleged that one or more of the defendants conspired to sell and transport drug paraphernalia for sale, and that they conspired to launder money illegally obtained through their drug, importation and paraphernalia violations. The government is seeking forfeiture of proceeds derived from the alleged criminal activities.

The case is the result of a joint investigation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which included the cooperative law enforcement efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Boise Police Department, Meridian Police Department, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and Nampa Police Department. Other federal agencies participating in the OCEDTF program include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. Marshals Service.

The OCDETF program is a federal, multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

POCATELLO – Noe Munguia-Diaz, a/k/a Juan Ernesto Medina-Munguia, 35, of Rexburg, Idaho, was sentenced today to 144 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for distributing methamphetamine and illegally possessing weapons, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. The Hon. Terry J. Hatter, Jr., Senior U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California, also ordered Munguia-Diaz to pay a $900 special assessment and forfeit the firearms he unlawfully possessed.

On September 10, 2013, Judge Hatter found Munguia-Diaz guilty of six counts of distributing methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and two counts of unlawfully possessing firearms. He waived his right to trial by a jury in August 2013.

During the two-day trial, Judge Hatter heard evidence that Munguia-Diaz sold methamphetamine to other individuals on six occasions between March 23, 2011, and October 19, 2012. During one of the sales, Munguia-Diaz also sold a handgun. Judge Hatter also heard evidence that on March 4, 2013, when Munguia-Diaz was arrested, Rexburg police officers found over $4,500 in the possession of the defendant and his female passenger; evidence that Munguia-Diaz had deposited that day a total of $15,000 between two different banks; and a loaded handgun. A search warrant executed on Munguia-Diaz’s residence later that day recovered approximately one ounce of methamphetamine from a heating vent in the defendant’s bedroom. Munguia-Diaz admitted to officers that he had methamphetamine in his house and that the firearm in the car belonged to him.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance by Bingham Co. Sheriff’s Office, Blackfoot Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fremont Co. Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police, Jefferson Co. Sheriff’s Office, Rexburg Police Department, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

BOISE – William Brian Kirkpatrick, 45, of Nampa, Idaho, pleaded guilty today to theft of government property, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Kirkpatrick appeared before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.

According to the plea agreement, Kirkpatrick admitted that he drove his truck onto public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and stole decorative sandstone rock to sell for use in landscaping projects. Kirkpatrick admitted that between November 2012 and June 2013, he stole more than 9,800 pounds of sandstone from BLM lands, which retailed for $1,472, and sold the rock commercially.

The charge of theft of government property is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

Kirkpatrick is scheduled to be sentenced on April 21, 2014.

The indictment is the result of an investigation by criminal investigators of the Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of the Interior.

BOISE – Kings Daniel Santy, 44, of Meridian, Idaho, pleaded guilty today to one count of operating an illegal gambling business, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Santy appeared today before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.

At his change of plea hearing, Santy admitted to being the owner and operator of two illegal gambling businesses, one in Boise and the other in Nampa. Santy admitted that the poker games had been or remained in substantially continuous operation for over six years; the games involved five or more persons who conducted, financed, managed, supervised, directed or owned all or part of the illegal gambling businesses; had gross revenue of more than $2,000 or more on any single day; and were operated in violation of Idaho state law. As part of his agreement, Santy will forfeit $16,262.87 in seized U.S. currency and an additional $100,000 in U.S. currency, proceeds of his illegal gambling business.

Santy faces up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and not more than three years of supervised release. Sentencing is set for April 21, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge.

This case was investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force. The task force is comprised of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boise Police Department, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Caldwell Police Department, Nampa Police Department, Meridian Police Department, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho Department of Correction. The Metro Task Fork was assisted by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.

COEUR D’ALENE – Stacia Larrea Greene, 29, of Clarkston, Washington, was sentenced today in United States District Court to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wend J. Olson announced. U.S. District Court Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Greene to pay a $3,000 fine and forfeit $5,000 in United States currency. She pleaded guilty to the charge on November 12, 2013.

According to statements made during the sentencing hearing, Greene distributed methamphetamine and cocaine on several occasions in 2011 and 2012. Her drug sales occurred in Lewiston, and on the nearby Nez Perce Indian Reservation.

The Greene case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration, Idaho State Police, and Nez Perce Tribal Police.

COEUR D’ALENE — Larry James Wolfe, 34, of Plummer, Idaho, was sentenced today for theft from a tribal organization, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge ordered Wolfe to serve three years of probation, pay $1,387 in restitution, and perform 80 hours of community service.

According to court documents, on October 20, 2012, Wolfe drove into the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Facilities storage area and stole four tires and four rims valued at approximately $1,300. Wolfe did not have permission to take the property, which belonged to an Indian Tribal Organization.

The case was investigated by Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

COEUR D’ALENE — Joseph L. James, 30, of Plummer, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in federal court to assault resulting in serious bodily injury, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. James was indicted by a federal grand jury in Coeur d’Alene on November 20, 2013.

According to the plea agreement, James admitted that on April 12, 2013, he hit his then-girlfriend in the face and broke her nose. The case was prosecuted federally because James and the victim are both enrolled members of a federally recognized Indian tribe, and the offense occurred on the Coeur d’Alene reservation.

The charge of assault resulting in serious bodily injury is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

James is scheduled to be sentenced on April 29, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d’Alene.

This case was jointly investigated by Coeur D’Alene Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

POCATELLO – U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today that Dulton E. Johnson, 23, of Fort Hall, Idaho, pleaded not guilty today to the indictment charging him with assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello on September 10, 2013. Johnson appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald E. Bush at the federal courthouse in Pocatello. Trial is set for March 10, 2014, before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

The indictment alleges that Johnson intentionally assaulted another person, which resulted in serious bodily injury, including multiple broken bones.

The charge of assault resulting in serious bodily injury is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Fort Hall Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity. It is not evidence. The person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

COEUR D’ALENE — Pamela J. Unruh, 58, of Rainer, Washington, pleaded guilty today in federal court to an information charging her with one count of false statement or fraud to obtain Federal Employee’s Compensation, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

According to the court proceeding, Unruh admitted that from at least as early as August 2006 to 2011, she failed to report her self-employment income to the Office of Worker's Compensation (OWCP) on the annual form she was required to complete and return to OWCP.

The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

Unruh is scheduled to be sentenced on April 28, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d’Alene.

The case was investigated by United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General.

COEUR D’ALENE – Loren Stanley Hall, 69, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to possessing sexually explicit images of minors, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

According to the plea agreement, in June 2012, a police officer, working with the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, discovered that a computer in Coeur d’Alene was making child pornography available on the Internet. The officer was able to download the file from a publicly available Internet network. He observed that the file contained a video of minors involved in sexually explicit conduct. Using digital information obtained when downloading the file, the officer was able to determine that the video was being made available from Hall’s residence in Coeur d’Alene.

In October 2012, a federal search warrant was served on Hall’s residence. According to the plea agreement, Hall told officers that he had been downloading pornography involving “younger girls.” A forensic examiner with the United States Secret Service examined Hall’s computer and other digital storage devices found in his home, and found that Hall had at least 50 movies depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The examiner determined that Hall had used search terms such as “underage,” “pre-teen,” “kiddy,” “man boy love,” and other search terms to find child pornography. Law enforcement officers were able to determine that the videos in Hall’s collection involved children from Washington state, Texas, New Hampshire, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and a number of foreign countries.

The charge is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and five years to lifetime supervised release.

Sentencing is set for April 28, 2014, before U.S. District Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d’Alene.

The case was investigated by the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and included the cooperative law enforcement efforts of Kootenai County Prosecutor’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Meridian (Idaho) Police Department, United States Secret Service, Idaho Attorney General’s Office, Coeur d’Alene Police Department, and U.S. Marshals Service. For more information about the ICAC Task Force, visit www.icacidaho.org.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

POCATELLO —Tyler Zane Clem, 21, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, pleaded guilty today to failing to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Clem was indicted by a federal grand Jury in Pocatello on August 28, 2013.

According to the plea agreement, Clem was convicted in June 2012 of sexual assault in the second degree in Arkansas and required to register as a sex offender. Clem left a half-way house in North Little Rock, Arkansas, on June 28, 2013, and eventually traveled to Pocatello, Idaho, where he was arrested on August 9, 2013. Although Clem had registered as a sex offender when living in Arkansas, he failed to update his registry after leaving the half-way house and did not register in Idaho after his arrival, as is required by law.

The charge of failure to register as a sex offender is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and five years up to lifetime supervised release.

Clem is set for sentencing on April 22, 2014, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Pocatello Police Department.

Clem was prosecuted for a violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) passed by Congress in 2006. The Act requires sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction where they reside. Violations of SORNA can be prosecuted in federal court.

POCATELLO — Daniel Joseph Dalton, 38, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to possessing sexually explicit images of minors, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Dalton was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello on July 23, 2013.

According to court records, over 300 video files of suspected child pornography were discovered on a desktop computer owned and used by Dalton after Dalton left the computer at a local computer repair shop. When interviewed by a Bonneville County Sheriff’s detective, Dalton admitted to downloading sexually explicit images of children using Limewire peer-to-peer file sharing software. Dalton also admitted that police would find child pornography on an external hard drive at his residence.

The charge of possession of sexually explicit images of minors is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and five years to lifetime supervised release.

Sentencing is set for April 22, 2014, before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

POCATELLO – Arriyon Meeks-Ortiz, 33, of Fort Hall, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to possession of an unregistered firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

According to the plea agreement, on May 15, 2013, Fort Hall Police officers responded to a residence on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. Meeks-Ortiz was observed to be holding what appeared to be a small bat or club. After being instructed by officers to leave the residence, Meeks-Ortiz tossed the object into a bedroom. Officers subsequently located an Iver Johnson 12-gauge shotgun with a barrel less than 18” in length on the bed in the bedroom. During an interview with law enforcement, Meeks-Ortiz said that he purchased the sawed-off shotgun in its altered condition for $100 and kept it underneath his trailer.

The charge of possessing an unregistered firearm is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

Meeks-Ortiz is scheduled to be sentenced on April 22, 2014, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The case was investigated by the Fort Hall Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Ten Sentenced; Eight Await Sentencing

BOISE – U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today that four defendants were sentenced this week in federal court for their roles in a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking ring. Twenty defendants were charged in an 89-count indictment filed in May 2013. Ten defendants have been sentenced in the case; eight others have pleaded guilty to the same or related charges and are awaiting sentencing.

U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge sentenced Randy Beal, 59, of Nampa, Idaho, on Monday to 57 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Jerry Lee Holmberg, 65, of Marsing, Idaho, was sentenced to 41 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Cynthia Prado, 32, of Boise, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and 80 hours of community service for interstate transportation in aid of racketeering enterprise. Beal, Holmberg and Prado were also ordered to serve 80 hours of community service in lieu of a fine after they are released from prison. They pleaded guilty to the charges on October 8, 2013.

Steven Richard, 42, of Eagle, Idaho, was sentenced this morning to two years’ probation for possession of a user amount controlled substance. He pleaded guilty on October 23, 2013.

Co-defendant Lena Kettle, of Caldwell, Idaho, is set for trial on March 11, 2014. The remaining defendant, David Echevarria, is in state custody; an arraignment date has not been set.

According to court proceedings, the conspiracy involved two distribution cells in the Treasure Valley: one led by Jason Holmberg, the other by Andrew Polney. Kenneth Jones in Sacramento, California, supplied multi-pound shipments of methamphetamine for transport to the Treasure Valley for distribution; also, a drug debt was owed by Jason Holmberg and unpaid for a large amount of methamphetamine obtained from Mexican sources of supply transshipped through Phoenix, Arizona, and transported to Idaho by Beal. The group operated from about June 2012 through the time of the various arrests on April 18, 2013 and May 23, 2013.

The indictment is the result of a joint investigation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), led by the Drug Enforcement Administration in conjunction with the Nampa Police Department and Boise Police Department. Other federal agencies participating in the OCDETF program include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Bureau of Land Management, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Marshals Service.

The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

BOISE – Rahil Akhtar, 37, of Eagle, Idaho, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge for acquiring and obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud and deception, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Akhtar was a dentist licensed to practice in the state of Idaho. He was sentenced to three years’ probation, 300 hours of community service, and fined $4,000. As part of his probation, Akhtar may not work in any capacity related to dentistry or pharmaceuticals without the permission of his probation officer. Additionally, in a separate proceeding, Akhtar entered a consent decree with the Board of Dentistry to suspend and revoke his dental license for ten years.

According to court documents, from 2011 through June 2013, Akhtar schemed to obtain controlled substances for himself by writing fraudulent prescriptions to other people. The prescriptions were for medications containing hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance, and Alprazolam (a benzodiazepine), a Schedule IV controlled substance. Generally, Akhtar would write a prescription to a person who was not a current patient in need of treatment or a prescription. At Akhtar’s direction, the person would fill the prescription at a pharmacy and return the majority of the pills to Akhtar. Sometimes Akhtar provided the person filling the prescription with money, but other times he expected that person to pay for the prescription. On some occasions, the person picking up the prescription kept some of the pills.

On November 4, 2013, Akhtar pleaded guilty to two counts of acquiring and obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud and deception. According to the plea agreement, Akhtar admitted that he wrote approximately 93 prescriptions and thereby acquired by fraud more than 2,500, but less than 5,000, dosage units of Schedule III and IV controlled substances. Akhtar further admitted the prescriptions were written without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of a professional dental practice: the individuals to whom the prescriptions were written were not patients in need of the prescriptions at the time; Akhtar provided no treatment and created no medical records related to the prescriptions; and although written to different people, the prescriptions were intended to provide drugs for Akhtar.

As part of the plea agreement, Akhtar will withdraw his DEA application for a DEA number in the state of Washington and agreed not to reapply for any DEA registration for at least one year after the final entry of judgment in this case.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA Diversion) and Meridian Police Department.

POCATELLO – Five members of an Idaho Falls area drug trafficking organization pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Pocatello, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

Federico Cervera, 56, and Antonio Tamez, 39, both of Blackfoot, Idaho, and Imelda Ramos, 36, of Pocatello, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine. The charge is punishable by a minimum term of ten years up to life in prison, a maximum fine of $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release.

Jesse J. Short, 33, of Pocatello, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute in excess of five grams of methamphetamine. The charge is punishable by a minimum term of five years up to 40 years in prison, a maximum fine of $5 million, and at least four years of supervised release.

Dominga Tamez, 67, of Blackfoot, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and at least three years of supervised release.

According to the plea agreements, on various dates in May 2013, the five defendants, distributed various quantities of methamphetamine in Pocatello and Heyburn, Idaho.

The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on April 15, 2014, before U.S. District Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Idaho State Police, assisted by the Pocatello Police Department, Blackfoot Police Department, Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, Power County Sheriff’s Office, the Mini-Cassia Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

POCATELLO — Harold Thomas Barker, 59, of Rexburg, Idaho, pleaded guilty today to unlawfully transferring firearms and distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Barker was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello on May 29, 2013.

According to the plea agreement, between May and July 2011, Barker sold eight firearms, assorted ammunition, and methamphetamine to an individual Barker knew was prohibited from possessing firearms. One of the firearms was a sawed-off shotgun. Barker agreed to forfeit $3,040, which constitute proceeds of his offenses.

The charge of unlawful transfer of a firearm is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. The charge of distribution of methamphetamine is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and at least three years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set for April 14, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Department of Homeland Security.

The case was prosecuted as part of Idaho’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, which seeks to reduce gun violence in Idaho.

POCATELLO —Marilee Taylor Love, 45, of Rexburg, Idaho, and Rodney Lewis Hall, 55, of Rigby, Idaho, were sentenced today for conspiring to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine, and unlawfully possessing and selling various firearms, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge sentenced Love to 32 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Hall was sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. They pleaded guilty to the charges on September 30, 2013.

According to the plea agreements, Love and Hall sold methamphetamine to another person in Madison County, Idaho, three times between February 2011 and February 2012. During one of the sales, Love and Hall also sold the individual a .22 caliber pistol, a .22 caliber rifle, and a silencer not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. On another occasion, Love sold the same individual a .45 caliber pistol and a loaded magazine of ammunition. Love’s plea agreement states that she knew the individual who purchased the firearms was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a conviction for a crime punishable by more than one year of prison.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

“Drug trafficking and firearms are a dangerous combination,” said Olson. “Where guns are unlawfully transferred to persons prohibited by law from possessing them, federal law enforcement and its cooperating state and local partners will act swiftly and aggressively to ensure that those responsible are fully prosecuted.”

The case was prosecuted as part of Idaho’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, which seeks to reduce gun violence in Idaho.

POCATELLO –John D. Heim, 41, of Pocatello, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to 37 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to launder money, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Judge N. Randy Smith of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, sitting by designation as a district court judge, also ordered Heim to perform 100 hours of community service after he is released from prison. He pleaded guilty to the charge on September 26, 2013.

According to the plea agreement, between March 1 and September 14, 2013, Heim owned and operated Heim, Inc., a business engaged in the sale of “spice,” a smokeable material containing a Schedule I controlled substance analogue. Heim admitted that he and other individuals engaged in monetary transactions in excess of $10,000 from funds derived from the illegal sale and distribution of spice. According to the plea agreement, the total amount of funds derived from the unlawful activity is $163,534.

As a result of the conviction, Heim will forfeit to the government property he owns at 354 S. 5th, in Pocatello, and 572 Fort Hall Ave., American Falls, Idaho.

The case is the result of a joint investigation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), led by the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Pocatello Police Department, Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, Blackfoot Police Department, and Idaho State Police. Other federal agencies participating in the OCEDTF program include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Marshals Service.

The OCDETF program is a federal, multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

POCATELLO – Raymond Camacho, a/k/a Jesus Mendoza-Nunez, 58, a Mexican national, was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court to 360 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Camacho will be deported at the conclusion of his prison term. He appeared before Judge N. Randy Smith of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, sitting by designation as a district court judge. The defendant is the sixth person sentenced in the case.

Camacho pleaded guilty to the charge on January 24, 2013. According to the plea agreement, on November 24, 2011, his vehicle was stopped by law enforcement officers in Bannock County, Idaho. A search of the vehicle uncovered approximately three pounds of methamphetamine, which contained more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine. Based on surveillance and information provided by others, it was determined that Camacho knew the methamphetamine was in the vehicle and intended to distribute to others.

Five co-defendants were sentenced in April and May 2013 to serve federal prison sentences for related drug trafficking offenses. Juan Aguilar, a Mexican national, was sentenced to 120 months; Juan Mendoza, of Menan, Idaho, to 102 months; Douglas I. McAdam, of Pocatello, to 33 months; and Marilyn Leones, of Pocatello, to 25 months. Jose Rios-Jimenez, a Mexican national, was sentenced to 16 months—time served—for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and illegal entry of a removed alien.

The final defendant in the case, Eldon K. McConnell, 49, of Pocatello, pleaded guilty yesterday to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to the plea agreement, on November 30, 2011, McConnell was found in possession of 3.7 grams of methamphetamine at a hotel room in Chubbuck, Idaho. Sentencing is set for April 9, 2014, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill. He faces up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and at least three years of supervised release.

Camacho is the fourteenth defendant to be sentenced to prison for crimes related to methamphetamine trafficking in federal courts in Idaho this week. Ten, including Camacho, were sentenced in federal court in Pocatello. Four were sentenced in Boise. They were sentenced to a total of 1,150 months or more than 96 years in federal prison.

“Methamphetamine is a dangerously addictive substance that does great harm to our Idaho communities,” said Olson. “Law enforcement officers in Idaho at all levels have worked tirelessly to identify, target and investigate major methamphetamine distribution rings in all parts of the state. The fourteen individuals sentenced in federal court this week received firm and just punishment.”

The case was investigated by Idaho State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Chubbuck Police Department.

POCATELLO – Droshawn E. Griggs, 28, Toulon K. Mattox, 34, and Chase R. Mitchell, 24, all of Pocatello, Idaho, were sentenced today in federal court for trafficking methamphetamine and oxycodone in and around southern Idaho, announced U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson.  The defendants appeared today before Judge N. Randy Smith of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, sitting by designation as a district court judge.

Griggs and Mattox were sentenced to 57 months and 41 months, respectively, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.  Mitchell was sentenced to 27 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  In addition to serving federal prison sentences, Griggs and Mattox were ordered to perform 200 hours of community service; Mitchell was ordered to do 100 hours.  They pleaded guilty to the charges in October 2013.

According to court documents, between April 2011 and December 2012, various individuals centered around Mattox conspired to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and oxycodone.  In furtherance of the conspiracy, and working in concert with other individuals, Griggs possessed methamphetamine intending to distribute it to others; Mattox possessed and distributed oxycodone.

Mitchell, according to the plea agreement, possessed and subsequently sold 1.37 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Pocatello on September 10, 2012.  The transaction was part of a controlled purchase arranged and monitored by law enforcement.

The case was investigated by Pocatello Police Department, with assistance from Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police, and U.S. Marshals Service.

Thirteen Defendants Still Await Sentencing

BOISE – Kenneth Jones, 47, of Rio Linda, California, Robbie Gallegos, 43, of Boise, Idaho, and Heidi Aguila, 34, of Nampa, Idaho, were sentenced this week in federal court for their roles in a large-scale methamphetamine distribution ring, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. The defendants appeared before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.

Jones, one of the leader/organizers of the distribution cell, was sentenced today to 130 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. Gallegos was sentenced on Monday to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for use of a communication device in committing a drug trafficking offense. Aguila, a lower level distributor, was sentenced on Monday to 24 months of probation for possession of a controlled substance.

Two co-defendants pleaded guilty yesterday to related drug charges. Henry Horne, 66, of Boise, Idaho, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance; he is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2014. Seanna Holmberg, 27, of Caldwell, Idaho, pleaded guilty to using a communication facility to commit a drug offense. She will be sentenced on April 8.

According to court proceedings, the conspiracy involved two distribution cells in the Treasure Valley; one led by Jason Holmberg, the other by Andrew Polney. Jones supplied multiple pound shipments of methamphetamine for transport to the Treasure Valley for distribution by Gallegos and Aguila, among others. The group operated from about June 2012 through the time of their arrests on April 18, 2013.

In addition to those who appeared in court this week, of the 20 defendants charged, three others have been sentenced and 11 have pleaded guilty and will be sentenced between January 27 and February 25, 2014. One remaining defendant, Lena Kettle, is scheduled for trial on March 11, 2014.

The indictment is the result of a joint investigation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), led by the Drug Enforcement Administration in conjunction with the Nampa Police Department and Boise Police Department. Other federal agencies participating in the OCDETF program include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Bureau of Land Management, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Marshals Service.

The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

POCATELLO — Gary Wallace Hoffman, 50, of Rigby, Idaho, pleaded guilty today to unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Hoffman was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello on May 29, 2013.

According to the plea agreement, on May 29, 2012, Hoffman sold .81 grams of methamphetamine and a 9 millimeter Glock pistol to another individual in Rexburg, Idaho. Hoffman received $120 for the methamphetamine and $580 for the firearm. Hoffman is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a drug conviction in Bonneville County, Idaho, in 2004.

The charge of unlawful possession of a firearm is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set for April 10, 2014, before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The case was prosecuted as part of Idaho’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, which seeks to reduce gun violence in Idaho.

BOISE – Anthony Jones, 29, of Nampa, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

According to the plea agreement, Jones admitted that on November 6, 2012, he sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant.

The charge is punishable by a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a maximum fine of $5 million, and at least four years of supervised release. Jones is set for sentencing on April 7, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge, at the federal courthouse in Boise.

The case was investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, which is comprised of federal, state and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Boise Police Department; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and the Idaho Department of Corrections.

The Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) also contributed to the investigation. Federal partners include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Marshals Service.

The case is being prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit treasurevalleypartners.org.

POCATELLO — Rigoberto Torres-Perez, 30, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, pleaded guilty today to unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Torres-Perez was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello on June 25, 2013.

According to the plea agreement, police officers encountered Torres-Perez on November 4, 2012, during a search of another individual’s residence in Idaho Falls. Torres-Perez was in possession of a 9 millimeter pistol with an obliterated serial number. Torres-Perez is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a drug conviction in Arizona in 2006.

The charge of unlawful possession of a firearm is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set for April 10, 2014, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Idaho Falls Police Department.

The case was prosecuted as part of Idaho’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, which seeks to reduce gun violence in Idaho.

POCATELLO – Emilio Raymond Martinez, 31, of Rigby, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States District Court to 80 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. He appeared today before Judge N. Randy Smith of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, sitting by designation as a district court judge. Martinez pleaded guilty to the charge on October 16, 2013.

According to court documents, on February 26, 2013, during execution of a search warrant at a residence in Bonneville County, officers found Martinez in possession of methamphetamine, which he intended to distribute, and paraphernalia.

Martinez’s co-defendant Sammy Joe Aguirre, 27, of Idaho Falls, pleaded guilty in November 2013 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 21, 2014, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

The case is the result of a joint investigation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), led by the Idaho State Police, with assistance from the Idaho Falls Police Department and Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office. Other federal agencies participating in the OCEDTF program include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Marshals Service.

The OCDETF program is a federal, multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

BOISE — Nathan Paul Davenport, 34, of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Boise for bank larceny by use of a dangerous weapon and use of a deadly weapon during a felony offense, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

The indictment charges that on January 10, 2014, Davenport broke into and stole cash from an automated teller machine (ATM) located at the Idaho First Bank in McCall, Idaho. The indictment further alleges that using a Ruger assault rifle, he shot at responding law enforcement officers in connection with the offense.

“Those who use firearms to commit violent crimes will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted,” said Olson. “The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office will move swiftly and decisively where evidence shows that those individuals attempt to injure law enforcement officers who themselves are trying to keep our communities safe. Along with our local law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate this incident.”

Davenport and another individual, Matthew Taber Annable, 39, were arrested without incident on January 12, 2014, in Orem, Utah, in connection with a separate ATM robbery in Wyoming. The two men appeared in federal court in Salt Lake City on Monday afternoon on a Wyoming federal complaint charging them with an ATM theft in Douglas, Wyoming on December 8, 2013.

The charge of bank larceny by use of a dangerous weapon as charged in the Idaho indictment is punishable by up to 25 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release. The charge of use of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony offense is punishable by a mandatory minimum of ten years up to life imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to five years supervised release.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Idaho State Police, the Valley County Sheriff’s Office, and the McCall Police Department.

Indictments and complaints are a means of charging a person with criminal activity. They are not evidence. The person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

POCATELLO – Saul Arellano-Alvarado, 41, and Jaime Meza-Gonzalez, 47, both of Idaho Falls, were sentenced today in United States District Court in Pocatello on charges related to methamphetamine trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson. Arellano-Alvarado was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for distributing five grams or more of methamphetamine. Meza-Gonzalez was sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, aiding and abetting. Both appeared before Judge N. Randy Smith of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, sitting by special designation as a district court judge.

Arellano-Alvarado and Meza-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to the charges on September 25, 2013. According to the plea agreements, on November 16, 2010, an individual contacted Meza-Gonzalez for the purpose of purchasing methamphetamine. Meza-Gonzalez directed the individual to Arellano-Alvarado. The next day Arellano-Alvarado made arrangements to distribute methamphetamine to the individual at a parking lot in Idaho Falls, and subsequently sold the person in excess of five grams of methamphetamine.

The third defendant, Roberto Carlos Camarena, 25, of Sugar City, Idaho, is a fugitive. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Idaho State Police, Bonneville County Sheriff's Office, Idaho Falls Police Department, Madison County Sheriff's Office, Rexburg Police Department, Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Other federal agencies participating in the OCDETF program include the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service.

The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

United States Charges John Bujak with Bankruptcy Fraud, Money Laundering and Obstruction of Justice

BOISE – John T. Bujak, 44, of Eagle, Idaho, was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boise on charges of bankruptcy fraud, concealment of assets, making a false statement under oath, money laundering, and obstruction of justice, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. An initial court date has not been set.

The indictment alleges that from November 1, 2010, to September 21, 2011, Bujak concealed from a bankruptcy trustee and creditors his and his then wife’s ownership in a women’s Rolex watch, by knowingly failing to disclose it, under oath, on the statement of assets filed as part of his bankruptcy petition.

The indictment alleges that Bujak sold the women’s Rolex watch and a diamond ring to a jewelry store in Florida and received a check for $26,000, $25,000 of which was payment for the Rolex watch. According to the indictment, Bujak concealed the sale and his receipt of the $26,000 from the United States trustee, the bankruptcy trustee, and his creditors, by intentionally cashing it at a MoneyTree store in Caldwell, Idaho, rather than depositing it into his personal bank accounts or cashing it at his bank.

When the sale of the women’s Rolex watch came to the attention of the bankruptcy trustee, the government alleges that Bujak made false statements to the trustee by stating that he and his then wife originally purchased the watch as a gift for his mother-in-law, that they did not possess it when they filed for bankruptcy, and that his mother-in-law returned the watch after 2 they filed for bankruptcy. The indictment also alleges that Bujak attempted to persuade his then wife to make false statements to the bankruptcy trustee regarding the watch.

The charges of bankruptcy fraud, concealment of assets and making a false statement under oath are each punishable by up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. The charge of money laundering is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of not more than $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater, and up to five years of supervised release. Obstruction of justice is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. The government is seeking forfeiture of proceeds of the unlawful activity and property involved in money laundering.

The case is being investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.

An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity. It is not evidence. The person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOISE – U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today that Fernando Manuel Soares, 53, of Wendell, Idaho, was sentenced today for distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge sentenced Soares this afternoon to 72 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to the charge on October 21, 2013. Judge Lodge fined Soares $1,000, and ordered him to forfeit $10,000 in proceeds of the offense and $2,292 in seized currency.

According to court proceedings, Soares sold methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent on March 5 and March 19, 2013. On May 21, 2013, Soares made arrangements to sell another ounce of methamphetamine to the undercover agent. Soares was stopped on his way to complete the transaction, and found to have 36 grams of methamphetamine in his vehicle. A search warrant was served at his residence in Wendell, and an additional 437.3 grams of methamphetamine, a set of digital scales, and $2,292 in U.S. currency was found in Soares’ bedroom.

The case was investigated by the Gooding County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Drug Enforcement Administration.

Third Co-conspirator Sentencing Set for March 17, 2014

POCATELLO — Vanessa Campos, 25, and Noe Gonzalez, 29, both of Caldwell, Idaho, were sentenced today to serve 47 months and 151 months, respectively, for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Judge N. Randy Smith of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, sitting by designation as a district court judge, also ordered Campos and Gonzalez to serve five years of supervised release following their prison terms, and to forfeit all property used to commit the crime and proceeds derived from the crime. Gonzalez was also ordered to pay a $500 fine. Campos pleaded guilty to the charges on October 16, 2013; Gonzalez on August 29.

According to court records, an Idaho State Police trooper stopped a vehicle being driven by Gonzalez on February 12, 2013, in Bonneville County. Campos’s sister was a passenger, and both she and Gonzalez were ultimately arrested. Pursuant to a search warrant, the vehicle was searched the next day. Hidden in the dash of the vehicle, police found a white tube sock containing four baggies of methamphetamine within a larger zip lock bag. The methamphetamine totaled 95.53 grams. Police also found a handgun and loaded magazine in the glove box. Recorded calls between Campos and her sister revealed that Campos planned to get the vehicle out of police impound and recover the methamphetamine before it was discovered by law enforcement. By the time Campos recovered the vehicle, the police had already located the drugs. Gonzalez later admitted to being involved in the conspiracy for two months as the “enforcer,” who attempted to collect money owed for purchased methamphetamine.

Court records further reveal that on March 6, 2013, a probation search of Campos’s residence revealed a digital scale, two glass methamphetamine pipes, a small amount of methamphetamine, and a drug ledger.

Campos’s sister and co-defendant, Angelica Campos, pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge on October 23, 2013. She is scheduled to be sentenced in Pocatello on March 17, 2014, by U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart of the District of Utah.

The indictment was the result of an investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which included the cooperative law enforcement efforts of the Idaho State Police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Bonneville County Sheriff's Office, Idaho Falls Police Department, Madison County Sheriff's Office, Rexburg Police Department, Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Other federal agencies participating in the OCDETF program include the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service.

The OCDETF program is a federal multi agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.