Idaho Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Darknet Drug Distribution Scheme

PORTLAND, Ore.—A former Boise, Idaho resident was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in a darknet drug distribution scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug. Kevin Marc Crotteau, 25, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

According to court documents, in July and August 2018, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers intercepted several packages containing MDMA and ketamine shipped from France to Crotteau’s co-conspirator, Brandon Paul Bart, 25, of Portland, at four different Portland addresses. On August 30, 2018, federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and officers from the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) assigned to a federal drug interdiction task force detained Bart after he attempted to retrieve two of the parcels, and executed search warrants on the parcels and Bart’s residence.

Investigators seized approximately eight kilograms of MDMA and two kilograms of ketamine. They determined that the packages had been imported from France to Bart’s addresses by Crotteau. The following day, August 31, 2018, investigators from HSI and PPB traveled to Boise and executed a search warrant at Crotteau’s residence.

Crotteau’s drug trafficking scheme generated significant proceeds. Investigators determined that Crotteau had sold Bitcoin valued at more than $108,000 and deposited the proceeds into a personal bank account. Crotteau used proceeds to purchase a Tesla valued at $136,200. Federal agents seized the Tesla.  

On October 3, 2019, Crotteau was charged by criminal information with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. On August 4, 2020, he pleaded guilty to the same charge.

On June 26, 2019, Bart was charged by criminal information with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. On August 27, 2019, he pleaded guilty to the same charge. Bart was sentenced to five years’ probation on September 13, 2020.

This case was investigated by the HIDTA Interdiction Task Force comprised of HSI and PPB with assistance from CBP and the Boise Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

This case was brought as part of the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. The Oregon HIDTA program was established by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in June of 1999. In 2015, the program expanded into Idaho and was renamed the Oregon-Idaho HIDTA. The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA consists of 14 counties and the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Counties in the HIDTA include Oregon’s Clackamas, Deschutes, Douglas, Jackson, Lane, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Multnomah, Umatilla and Washington counties, and Idaho’s Ada, Bannock and Canyon counties.