Boise Man Sentenced to 151 Months for Distributing Meth

POCATELLO—Ruben Moreno Sanchez, 36, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced in federal court in Pocatello to 151 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also sentenced Sanchez to five years of supervised release and ordered him to perform 100 hours of community service. He pleaded guilty to the charge on June 26, 2012.

According to the plea agreement, on August 7, 2011, a bail bondsman contacted Sanchez at a Boise motel. During that contact, Moreno told the bail bondsman that he had a pound of methamphetamine in his motel room, and that he was going to sell it to pay the balance he owed on his bond. The information was relayed to law enforcement, who executed a search warrant on Moreno’s motel room. During the search, officers found 134.7 grams of actual methamphetamine. Moreno admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine with the intention of distributing it.

Sanchez and co-defendant Cesar Urrea-Naverette, 34, a Mexican national, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello on October 25, 2011. Urrea-Navarette is set for trial on December 4 at the United States Courthouse in Pocatello.

The indictment was the result of a joint investigation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, in conjunction with Idaho State Police and Boise Police Department. Other federal agencies participating in the OCDETF program include the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigation (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.

Five Co-Defendants Sentenced Earlier

COEUR D’ALENE—Christopher McFarland, 49, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to 48 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to launder money, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered McFarland to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term. McFarland also forfeited his ownership interest in Chillers, a bar located on Sherman Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. He pleaded guilty to the charge on October 25, 2010.

According to court documents, McFarland and his co-defendants distributed between five and 15 kilograms of cocaine in northern Idaho between 2000 and 2010.

Also sentenced yesterday was co-defendant Lecia Donita O’Neill, 46, of Coeur d’Alene. She was ordered to serve 12 months plus one day in prison, to be followed by 10 months home confinement and eight years of supervised release. Co-defendants James Roy O’Neill, Steven Joseph McCabe, Debra Lynne Margraff, Gary Arden Votava, and Manuel Rivera have already been sentenced to federal prison with terms ranging from 180 months to five months.

“Those who bring cocaine or other illegal drugs into our communities will be brought to justice,” said Olson. “Yesterday’s sentencing marks the end of a successful investigation. It is a victory for our communities. I commend the cooperative law enforcement work that ended this long-lasting drug trafficking operation.”

The case was investigated by Idaho State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, the North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Tri-Cities (Washington) Metro Drug Taskforce.

The investigation was the result of a joint investigation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). 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.

Four Members of Drug Trafficking Ring Sentenced

POCATELLO — Four members of a large scale drug trafficking conspiracy were sentenced to federal prison this week, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today. The three men and one woman appeared before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

Julio Medellin–Pena, 47, of Burley, was sentenced on Tuesday to 126 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Medellin–Pena pleaded guilty in March 2011.

Veronica Cruz–Jimenz, 34, a Mexican national, was sentenced on Monday to 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. On April 5, 2011, Cruz–Jimenez and Andres Collado–Rojas, 20, also a Mexican national, were convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine between October 2009 and August 2010. Collado–Rojas was sentenced on July 18 to 151 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.

Diego Vega–Corona, 40, a Mexican national, was sentenced on Monday to 78 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Vega–Corona will be required to serve three years of supervised release after his prison term. He pleaded guilty to the charge in May 2011. As part of his plea, Vega-Corona forfeited cash proceeds of at least $2,000.

Luis Angel Cruz–Jimenez, 25, a Mexican national, was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Cruz–Jimenez will also be required to serve three years of supervised release. He pled guilty on May 3. Sentenced on July 8 on related drug charges were Mexican nationals Julio Jimenez–Morales, 30, to 108 months in prison, and Jose Penaloza–Paramo, 30, to 240 months in prison. Both men will be required to serve five years of supervised release following their prison term. Jimenez–Morales was ordered to forfeit $10,000; Penaloza-Paramo, $39,000.

The defendants were charged in a 34–count superseding indictment filed in July 2010. According to plea agreements and trial testimony, between October 2009 and August 2010, the co–conspirators, led by Jose Penaloza–Paramo, participated in a drug trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of multiple pounds of methamphetamine in Ada, Canyon, Bannock and Franklin counties.

"Methamphetamine trafficking is a serious problem that demands a serious response from law enforcement, prosecutors and the courts," said Olson. "These defendants, appropriately, will pay a heavy price for bringing this dangerously addictive drug to Idaho communities. State and federal law enforcement officers throughout Idaho will work together to ensure that drug traffickers are caught, prosecuted and convicted."

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Idaho State Police, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The investigation was the result of a joint investigation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). 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.

Steele Convicted on All Counts in Murder-for-Hire Scheme

Edgar J. Steele, 65, of Sagle, Idaho, was convicted today by a federal jury in Boise on all counts, including using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, use of explosive material to commit a federal felony, possession of a destructive device in relation to a crime of violence, and tampering with a victim, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

During the seven-day trial, the jury heard audio tapes of Steele making statements to Larry Fairfax, the individual he tried to hire, confirming his participation in the murder-for-hire plot. Mr. Fairfax pled guilty on related charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11 in Coeur d'Alene.

Steele's conviction for using interstate commerce facilities in the commission for murder-for-hire and use of explosive material to commit a federal felony each carry a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. Steele's conviction for possession of a destructive device in relation to a crime of violence (murder-for-hire) carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years and maximum of life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release. The mandatory minimum 30-year sentence must be served consecutively to the murder-for-hire sentence. For tampering with a victim, Steele faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 22, 2011, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Coeur d'Alene.

“We are pleased with the verdict,” said Olson. “This trial involved some detailed and difficult evidence that the jury clearly closely evaluated before reaching its decision. The defendant tried to portray this case as a government conspiracy based on manufactured evidence.

The jury's verdict confirms what we knew—there was no conspiracy, only Edgar Steele's own words and actions proving that he tried to hire Larry Fairfax to murder his wife. Our sympathy goes out to Mrs. Steele and her children. This case is truly a tragedy for that family.”

Olson commended Assistants United States Attorney Marc Haws and Traci Whelan, and members of the North Idaho Violent Crime Task Force (NIVCTF) and Federal Bureau of Investigation who investigated the case.

The NIVCTF consists of investigators representing the FBI, Idaho State Police, Kootenai County Sheriff's Department, Shoshone County Sheriff's Office, Bonner County Sheriff's Office, Coeur d'Alene Police Department, Post Falls Police Department, and the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police Department, and is tasked with investigating a myriad of violent crimes to include armed robbery, kidnapping, felonious assault, and drug trafficking.

Culdesac Man Sentenced for Nez Perce Reservation Assault

Ricardo Daniel Rodriguez, 39, of Culdesac, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to six months in federal prison for assault, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced. U.S. Magistrate Judge Mikel H. Williams also ordered Rodriguez to serve six months of supervised release following his prison term and pay $4,320 in restitution. Rodriguez was convicted by a federal jury on November 16, 2010.

During the two-day trial, the jury heard evidence that on May 18, 2009, Rodriguez assaulted Jeffory Talbott, an Idaho State Police Trooper, by striking, beating, and wounding Talbott. The charge arose from a traffic stop that Talbott initiated on a county highway within the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. Rodriguez was a passenger in the pickup truck that Talbott stopped. The assault occurred shortly after the traffic stop. During the incident, Talbott fired his service weapon. Vern Ellenwood was killed and Rodriguez was wounded.

The case was investigated by the Nez Perce County Sheriff's Office, Nez Perce Tribal Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The United States Attorney's Office has jurisdiction over cases involving a non-Indian victim and an Indian defendant that occur within the boundaries of the Nez Perce Indian Reservation.

Worley Man Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter

Joseph Michael Matt, Jr., 25, of Worley, Idaho, pled guilty yesterday in Coeur d’Alene to involuntary manslaughter, the United States Attorney’s Office announced.

According to the indictment, on August 18, 2009, Matt and his passenger, William Davison, were driving on

Lovell Valley Road

on the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation. Matt was under the influence of alcohol and methamphetamine and was speeding when he lost control of his vehicle. The ensuing crash killed Davison.

The charge carries a maximum punishment of up to eight years in prison, a fine up to $250,000, and up to three years’ supervised release.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 23, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge in Coeur d’Alene.

The case was investigated by the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Police, Idaho State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.