District of Idaho
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
BOISE – Juan Carlos Delfin, 47, of Salem, Oregon, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
A federal jury convicted Delfin of the crimes following a jury trial in December of 2025. According to evidence presented at trial, Delfin was a leader in a multi-state and international drug trafficking organization with ties to Mexico. Delfin’s son, Cesar Delfin-Cervantes, was also a member of the drug trafficking organization. The organization arranged for large shipments of methamphetamine to be delivered through a network of couriers from Mexico to California and then to Salem, Oregon, where Delfin and his son resided. From there, Delfin and his son organized delivery of the drugs to the Treasure Valley area. Over a span of approximately five months, investigators seized over 215 pounds of methamphetamine from the drug trafficking organization. Over a period of approximately two years, the organization transported and sold hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine.
“This significant sentence is well-deserved and reflects the danger posed to our communities by importing methamphetamine from Mexico and distributing it in our state” said U.S. Attorney Davis. “I am proud of the cooperative efforts of our federal and state law enforcement agencies. Together we will continue to aggressively target and prosecute illegal drug trafficking in Idaho.”
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Delfin to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Judge Brailsford previously sentenced Delfin-Cervantes to 188 months in prison and five years of supervised release for his involvement in the organization. Delfin’s daughter, Esmeralda Delfin-Cervantes, is also alleged to be a member of the drug trafficking organization and has federal drug trafficking charges pending in the District of Oregon.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (the Boise and Salem Resident Agencies), the Nampa Police Department Special Investigations Unit, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, the Boise Police Department, the Meridian Police Department, the Oregon High Desert Drug Task Force, the Salem Police Department, and the Oregon State Police, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Morse and Christopher Booker prosecuted this case.
These cases were investigated through the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, which is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency, prosecutor-supported approach. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug program.
###
Unknown Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Using Identity of Deceased Child for 25 Years to Obtain Nearly $300,000 in Government BenefitsRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – A man whose identity remains unknown was sentenced to five years in federal prison for stealing the identity of a deceased child for 25 years to obtain significant government benefits, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today. After a three-day trial in May 2026, a federal jury sitting in Pocatello found the man guilty of wire fraud, theft of government funds, aggravated identity theft, and related charges.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ('Fraud Division'). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
“Taxpayer funds are precious resources, and our office will fight to vigorously protect such funds,” U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis said. “This sentence should send a strong message that stealing taxpayer funds and craven identity theft will be met with a thorough federal investigation, and a stiff sentence.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Carlos Ramon Obregon was born in 1963 in Los Angeles but was tragically killed in Los Angeles in 1977 at the age of 14 after suffering from a gunshot wound to the head during a drive-by shooting. Obregon was laid to rest at a local cemetery in Los Angeles that same year.
Twenty-three years after Obregon’s death, in 2000, the Defendant applied for a replacement social security card using Obregon’s social security number, Obregon’s date of birth, and Obregon’s parent’s names.
At trial, Obregon’s mother testified that Obregon died in 1977. She testified that the Defendant is not her son, and that she does not know the Defendant. The Defendant’s true identity remains unknown.
The Defendant misused Obregon’s identity to fraudulently obtain multiple identification documents. In 2012, the Defendant applied for, and obtained, a United States passport using Obregon’s birth certificate. He travelled multiple times on the passport to Mexico. In 2024, the Defendant unsuccessfully sought to renew the passport.
“Identity thieves who exploit the identities of deceased Americans cause real harm,” said Jonathan P. Kazmar, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) San Francisco Field Office. “In this case, the defendant assumed the identity of a deceased American teenager and used it for years to commit serious fraud. DSS will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of U.S. travel and identity documents and to seek justice for victims of identity theft.”
For more than two decades, the Defendant used Obregon’s name and identity to fraudulently obtain numerous government benefits totaling approximately $284,000. The Defendant unlawfully received approximately $177,000 in Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, $91,00 in Medicaid benefits, $12,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and $3,200 in Economic Impact Payments.
“This defendant repeatedly used a deceased individual’s identity to unlawfully obtain over $177,000 in SSI benefits for personal gain, diverting critical resources from people who genuinely need them to meet their basic needs.,” said Christian Assaad, Special Agent-in-Charge, Denver/San Francisco Field Division, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG). “We will continue to investigate those who attempt to defraud Social Security programs, and we will work closely with our law enforcement partners to hold them accountable.”
“Unlawfully obtaining Medicaid benefits—even in this case going so far as to assume the identity of a deceased child to fraudulently collect benefits—diverts limited resources from patients who truly need them,” said Special Agent in Charge Robb Breeden of the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Pacific Region. “HHS OIG, working with our law enforcement and program partners, will continue to protect the integrity of Medicaid and hold accountable anyone who exploits it.”
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) takes all investigations into identity theft and COVID relief fraud seriously”, stated TIGTA Special Agent-in-Charge Krystofor Proev. “We would like to thank our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting such egregious acts in this case.”
“This 61-month prison sentence following a multi-agency investigation reflects the effectiveness of the whole-of-government approach against fraud under the leadership of VP Vance and the WH Task Force to bring criminals to justice. I applaud the work of USDA OIG and the numerous law enforcement partners who worked this case together,” said USDA Inspector General John Walk. “This ‘unknown man’ used the stolen identity of a child who died in 1977 to successfully obtain government benefits across numerous programs for 25 years beginning decades after the child’s death. Something is broken. This underscores the importance of strengthening fraud prevention measures like upfront identity verification and data analytics to stop the fraud before it happens.”
The Defendant also obtained Idaho state identification cards in 2002, 2010, and 2014. In 2022, the Defendant obtained a Star Card, again using Obregon’s birth certificate as proof of his identity and lawful presence in the United States.
United States District Judge David C. Nye sentenced the unknown man to 61 months in prison and ordered the man to be placed on supervised release for three years following completion of his prison sentence. Judge Nye also ordered the man to pay $283,977.40 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the cooperative efforts of the SSA OIG, DSS, HHS-OIG, TIGTA, USDA OIG, and Idaho Transportation Department, which led to the charges.
Assistant United States Attorneys Sean Mazorol and Brittney Campbell prosecuted the case.
###
California Man Sentenced to 92 Months for Pharmacy BurglariesRead the Press Release
BOISE – Andrew Rumbo-Ochoa, 28, of Santa Clara, California, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, Rumbo-Ochoa conspired with others to burglarize pharmacies and steal controlled substances to sell. Rumbo-Ochoa and his co-conspirators drove from California to Idaho to commit the crime. On May 22, 2025, Rumbo-Ochoa and his co-conspirators were seen on surveillance footage outside a pharmacy in Montpelier, Idaho. Later, on May 22, they broke into a pharmacy in Grace, Idaho and stole Schedule II controlled substances, including 345 pills containing hydrocodone, 200 pills containing hydromorphone, and 5,773 pills containing oxycodone, with the intent to distribute the substances.
In March 2025, Rumbo-Ochoa travelled with others to Missoula, Montana. On March 10, 2025, they broke into a pharmacy in Missoula, and stole Schedule II controlled substances, including 1,593 pills containing hydrocodone, 565 pills containing oxycodone, 80 pills containing hydromorphone, 194 pills containing methylphenidate, and 1,591 pills containing amphetamine.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Rumbo-Ochoa to serve 3 years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Rumbo-Ochoa pleaded guilty to the charge on April 30, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of the U.S Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Caribou County Sheriff's Office, the Caribou County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Missoula Police Department, which led to the charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darci Crane prosecuted the case.
###
Fort Hall Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing a ChildRead the Press Release
BOISE – Shone Jem Bache, 47, of Fort Hall, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child Under 12 Years of Age, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
“I hope this outcome provides some closure and justice to the victim and her family,” said U.S. Attorney Davis. “I am grateful for the partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Hall Police Department and their dedication to identifying and investigating those who commit egregious acts of sexual abuse on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.”
According to court records, the investigation began when a nine-year-old child victim disclosed to family members and school staff that Bache had sexually abused her. The child victim disclosed multiple instances of sexual abuse that occurred on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Hall Police Department conducted a thorough investigation and were able to corroborate aspects of the victim’s disclosure through physical evidence and witness statements.
“No punishment can ever undo the trauma inflicted on a child or erase the lifelong impact of these crimes, but we hope this offers some comfort on their journey toward healing,” stated Robert Bohls, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. “Children deserve to grow up safe. Alongside our Tribal and law enforcement partners, the FBI will never stop fighting to protect the most vulnerable and bring offenders to justice”.
U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Bache to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Bache will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of his conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Hall Police Department, which led to the charge. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kassandra McGrady and Justin Paskett prosecuted the case.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
National of Bosnia and Herzegovina Charged with Attempting to Fraudulently Obtain U.S. Citizenship by Failing to Disclose Role in Abuse of PrisonersRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the District of Idaho returned an indictment last week charging Miran Kostic, 66, of Boise, Idaho, a national of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with lying while attempting to obtain U.S. citizenship.
According to court documents, Kostic was a high-level official in the so-called Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (APZB). In that role, he pistol-whipped prisoners, beat them with wooden clubs, stakes, and his fists, and kicked them, causing them to lose consciousness. He forced prisoners to beat each other, and he also ordered other members of the APZB to beat prisoners. In his applications to become a U.S. citizen and in interviews with the FBI and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), he repeatedly lied about the abuse he participated in and ordered, and failed to disclose charges filed against him in Bosnia and Herzegovina for war crimes, among other lies.
Kostic is charged with attempted naturalization fraud and making material false statements to law enforcement agents. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each charge of attempted naturalization fraud, and five years in prison for the false statements charge.
“Miran Kostic benefited from U.S. residency for decades and ultimately attempted to become a naturalized citizen, all while concealing the human rights abuses he committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Individuals who commit atrocities abroad and lie to immigration authorities to seek safe haven in the United States will be investigated and prosecuted. The integrity of our naturalization process and the enforcement of our immigration laws are paramount concerns.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to work with our partners to ensure federal immigration laws are followed and are properly enforced,” said U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis for the District of Idaho.
“Citizenship is a privilege that must be earned with honesty and integrity,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle. “HSI will not allow the naturalization process to be undermined by fraud. We remain steadfast in our commitment to investigate and prosecute those who conceal their criminal backgrounds to illegally obtain status.”
“Kostic’s attempt to conceal his violent history in order to obtain U.S. citizenship will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate fraud and hold individuals accountable for violating our nation’s laws.”
HSI and FBI are investigating the case, with coordination provided by the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS), along with the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance by securing the evidence for prosecution of Kostic. The Justice Department thanks the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, which were instrumental in furthering the investigation.
Trial Attorney Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Horwitz for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.
Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or through the FBI’s online tip form at tips.fbi.gov/, or Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or through ICE’s online tip form at www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
National of Bosnia and Herzegovina Charged with Attempting to Fraudulently Obtain U.S. Citizenship by Failing to Disclose Role in Abuse of PrisonersRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the District of Idaho returned an indictment last week charging Miran Kostic, 66, of Boise, Idaho, a national of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with lying while attempting to obtain U.S. citizenship.
According to court documents, Kostic was a high-level official in the so-called Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (APZB). In that role, he pistol-whipped prisoners, beat them with wooden clubs, stakes, and his fists, and kicked them, causing them to lose consciousness. He forced prisoners to beat each other, and he also ordered other members of the APZB to beat prisoners. In his applications to become a U.S. citizen and in interviews with the FBI and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), he repeatedly lied about the abuse he participated in and ordered, and failed to disclose charges filed against him in Bosnia and Herzegovina for war crimes, among other lies.
Kostic is charged with attempted naturalization fraud and making material false statements to law enforcement agents. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each charge of attempted naturalization fraud, and five years in prison for the false statements charge.
“Miran Kostic benefited from U.S. residency for decades and ultimately attempted to become a naturalized citizen, all while concealing the human rights abuses he committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Individuals who commit atrocities abroad and lie to immigration authorities to seek safe haven in the United States will be investigated and prosecuted. The integrity of our naturalization process and the enforcement of our immigration laws are paramount concerns.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to work with our partners to ensure federal immigration laws are followed and are properly enforced,” said U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis for the District of Idaho.
“Citizenship is a privilege that must be earned with honesty and integrity,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle. “HSI will not allow the naturalization process to be undermined by fraud. We remain steadfast in our commitment to investigate and prosecute those who conceal their criminal backgrounds to illegally obtain status.”
“Kostic’s attempt to conceal his violent history in order to obtain U.S. citizenship will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate fraud and hold individuals accountable for violating our nation’s laws.”
HSI and FBI are investigating the case, with coordination provided by the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS), along with the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance by securing the evidence for prosecution of Kostic. The Justice Department thanks the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, which were instrumental in furthering the investigation.
Trial Attorney Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Horwitz for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.
Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or through the FBI’s online tip form here or Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or through ICE’s online tip form here.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Idaho Man Indicted for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed yesterday in the District of Idaho charging an Idaho man with evading payment of taxes owed to the IRS.
According to the indictment, from approximately December 2022 through at least February 2026, Joshua Laine Bennett, of Caldwell, Idaho, evaded the payment of personal income taxes for several years and the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (“TFRP”) that the IRS assessed against him for multiple calendar quarters for failing to pay taxes related to a company he owned. According to the indictment, Bennett evaded payment of those outstanding tax liabilities by, among other things, providing false information on IRS collections forms, using cashier’s checks to keep his bank balance low, purchasing nearly $700,000 in gold bars, using a nominee bank account to receive payments for industrial equipment and real property and making withdrawals from that nominee bank account for personal expenses, all in an effort to thwart IRS collections efforts.
In total, Bennett allegedly caused a tax loss to the United States of approximately $888,313, including penalties and interest.
Bennett was charged with one count of tax evasion related to his personal income taxes and one count of tax evasion related to the TFRPs assessed against him. If convicted, he faces a maximum of five years in prison for each count of tax evasion. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney David F. Scollan of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney Campbell for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Fort Hall Drug Dealer Sentenced to 80 months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Mariah Dawn Russell, 30, of Fort Hall, was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Bart Davis announced today.
According to court records, between April and August 2024, Russell sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to another person on four occasions at locations in Bannock, Bingham, and Bonneville Counties. In early October 2024, police arrested Russell after she met with another individual to purchase 1,000 fentanyl pills, which she intended to distribute. In total, between April and October 2024, law enforcement purchased or seized approximately three grams of methamphetamine and more than 760 grams of fentanyl.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Russell to serve five years of supervised release following her prison sentence. Russell pleaded guilty to the charge on December 16, 2024. Her co-defendant, Walker Cates was sentenced on May 21, 2025, to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the BADGES Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Fort Hall Police Department. The BADGES Task Force is a HIDTA-funded task force that includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pocatello Police Department, the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, the Idaho State Police, and the Chubbuck Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoie Laggis prosecuted this case.
These cases were investigated through the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multiagency drug enforcement initiatives, including the BADGES Task Force. The BADGES Task Force is a collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that focuses primarily on drug trafficking in Bannock County and throughout the region.
This case was handled by the U.S. Attorney Office’s specially deputized Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA), funded by the Eastern Idaho Partnership (EIP) and the State of Idaho. The EIP is a coalition of local city and county officials in eastern Idaho as well as the Idaho Department of Correction.
The EIP SAUSA program allows law enforcement to utilize the federal criminal justice system – through the EIP SAUSA – to prosecute, convict, and sentence violent, armed criminals and drug traffickers. These criminals often receive stiffer penalties than they might in state courts.
This program was created in January 2016. Since that time, approximately 275 defendants have been indicted by the EIP SAUSA. Of these defendants, 197 have been indicted on drug trafficking charges. The defendants indicted under the program have been sentenced to 12,998 months (approximately 1,083.17 years) in federal prison, representing an average prison sentence of 51.99 months (4.33 years). Defendants indicted for drug trafficking offenses under this program, serve on average approximately 75.63 months (6.30 years) in federal prison.
###
Nampa Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
BOISE – Steven Isaac Vasquez, 26, of Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
“Protecting Idaho’s children is a top priority for my office, and we are grateful to work with so many dedicated partners who share the same goal. Together, we ensure that sexual offenders are held accountable for their egregious actions and that victims get the justice they deserve,” said U.S. Attorney Davis
According to court records, the investigation began when the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (“ICAC”) received a CyberTip report from a social media platform. A CyberTip is a report submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”). NCMEC gathers leads and tips regarding suspected online crimes against children and forwards them to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement determined that a social media account, later identified as belonging to Vasquez, had been used to upload videos of child sexual abuse material. ICAC determined the videos depicted Vasquez sexually abusing a seven-year-old child. The investigation revealed that Vasquez had used his cellphone to record the videos and then posted them to his social media account. ICAC later obtained a search warrant for his online account and located the videos he had produced.
“This 30-year sentence gets one more predator off Idaho’s streets,” said Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador. “Protecting Idaho families is the foundation of everything we do in our office. I’m grateful to U.S. Attorney Bart Davis and our law enforcement partners for their work seeing this case through to justice for the family and victim.”
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Vasquez to serve a lifetime term of supervised release following his prison sentence. Vasquez will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of his conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Idaho ICAC Task Force, the Nampa Police Department, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, the Middleton Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, and the Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office, which led to the charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kassandra McGrady prosecuted the case.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Caldwell Woman Charged in the District of Idaho as Part of the National Health Care Fraud TakedownRead the Press Release
BOISE – United States Attorney Bart M. Davis announced criminal charges against defendant Niki Rashel Cook in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud healthcare businesses. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges stem from Cook’s alleged scheme to obtain nursing jobs at healthcare businesses by fraudulently representing herself to be a registered nurse and licensed practical nurse.
The charges announced by U.S. Attorney Davis are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. The Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a previously-charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme. The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms.
The coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including:
- Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers.
- 48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions, and 25 actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”) under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers.
- Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes, as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million.
- 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025.
The following individual was charged in the District of Idaho:
- Niki Rashel Cook, 47, of Caldwell, Idaho, was charged by indictment with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with an alleged scheme to obtain nursing jobs at healthcare businesses by fraudulently representing herself to be a registered nurse and licensed practical nurse. As alleged in the indictment, Cook, using victims’ names and nursing licenses, applied for and obtained jobs at healthcare facilities, including a behavioral health hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a skilled nursing facility, and businesses providing hospice services, earning over $22,000 as a result of her scheme. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darci Crane of the District of Idaho.
The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nebraska, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin; and State Attorneys General’s Offices, through their MFCUs, in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. In addition, the MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virigina participated in the investigation of federal cases announced.
Descriptions of each case involved in the enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here.
The District of Idaho, in particular, worked with the Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit of the Fraud Division and the following law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the case filed during the Takedown: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Boise Police Department.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
An indictment, information or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Former Idaho Resident Sentenced for Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting BusinessRead the Press Release
Coeur d’Alene – Former Idaho resident Susan White, a/k/a Susan Milne, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison for participating in a fraud scheme by acting as a money mule and transmitting fraud proceeds through her personal and third-party bank accounts, U.S. Attorney Bart Davis announced.
According to court records, beginning in late 2017 through approximately July 2018, White operated as a money mule for various fraud schemes, including business email compromise schemes and other internet-enabled fraud. White used her own personal bank accounts and recruited or utilized accounts belonging to other individuals to receive and move illicit proceeds from the various fraud schemes. In exchange for transmitting the funds, White retained a portion of the funds deposited into the various accounts.
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered White to serve 3 years of supervised release following her prison sentence and to pay $66,130.75 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of United States Secret Service, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney Campbell prosecuted the case.
###
Federal and Local Officials Dismantle Oregon-Idaho Based Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
BOISE – Four members of a drug trafficking organization that operated in both Idaho and Oregon have been sentenced to a combined thirty-seven and half years in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, in 2024 law enforcement began investigating a drug trafficking organization that was distributing methamphetamine in southwestern Idaho and eastern Oregon. Members of the organization obtained methamphetamine from California and brought it back to Idaho and Oregon for further distribution. During the investigation and subsequent arrests, law enforcement seized over 17 pounds of methamphetamine. Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford sentenced each of the defendants to federal prison.
Juan Pulido, 44, of Caldwell, was sentenced to 188 months in prison for possessing methamphetamine with the intent of distributing it to others. At the time he committed the crime, Pulido had four prior drug trafficking convictions. During sentencing, Judge Brailsford described Pulido as a “large scale methamphetamine supplier.” Pulido was ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Maleah Rochelle Benavidez, 31, of Ontario, Oregon, was sentenced to 120 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. During her involvement in the conspiracy, Benavidez was absconding supervision on two prior drug trafficking convictions.
Daniel Ryan Carrion, 38, of Ontario, Oregon, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. During the investigation, Carrion led law enforcement on a high-speed chase, creating such a significant danger that officers had to end the pursuit. During the pursuit, Carrion threw a pound of methamphetamine in an open field that law enforcement officers seized.
Wesley John Roehl, 41, of Boise, was sentenced to 24 months, followed by three years of supervised release for distributing methamphetamine.
“Out of state acquisition of illegal narcotics endangers our community,” said U.S. Attorney Bart Davis. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement to zealously prosecute those bringing drugs into Idaho.”
“This investigation reflects DEA’s commitment to disrupting drug trafficking organizations that threaten the safety of our communities,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Through strong partnerships with our federal, state, and local law enforcement counterparts, we will continue to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who profit from distributing dangerous drugs in Idaho and Oregon.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration in coordination with the Nampa Police Department and the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multiagency drug enforcement initiatives, including the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force, which includes the Nampa Police Department, Boise Police Department, Ada County Sherriff’s Office, Meridian Police Department, Caldwell Police Department, Idaho State Police, and the Idaho Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole. Other agencies that assisted in the investigation included the United States Postal Inspector Service and the High Desert Drug Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Manweiler prosecuted the case.
The Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force and the High Desert Drug Task Force are both supported by the HIDTA program, which provides funding resources to multiagency drug enforcement initiatives to identify, disrupt, and dismantle local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-supported approach.
###
Coeur d’ Alene Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Shawn Allen Cline, 53, of Coeur d’Alene, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, Cline is prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions. Most recently, in December 2024, Cline was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and placed on five years of supervised probation.
One year later, members of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department and Idaho Department of Correction Probation and Parole went to Cline’s home in Coeur d’Alene to conduct a probation compliance check. They found him in the garage holding a beer in one hand and a marijuana pipe in the other. Law enforcement searched the home and found a shotgun, a homemade shotgun, methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a homemade pipe bomb. Cline admitted to making the pipe bomb and said that he wanted to blow stuff up. Members of the Spokane Bomb Squad responded to the home, rendered the device safe, and confirmed that the device was a lethal pipe bomb.
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered that Cline serve 3 years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Cline will continue to be prohibited from possessing firearms following his conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the collaborative work of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department; Idaho Department of Correction Probation and Parole; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. The U.S. Attorney also thanked the Spokane Bomb Squad for protecting the community by decommissioning Cline’s pipe bomb. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted this case.
###
As Part of Freedom 250 Celebration the United States Attorney Announces Hometown Hero AwardRead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced that Bonneville County Sheriff’s Detective Korey Payne was selected as the recipient of Idaho’s “Hometown Hero” Award. Detective Payne was selected for his extensive work combating child exploitation.
As part of the Freedom 250 initiative celebrating America’s 250th birthday, the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho recognized Detective Payne for his exceptional efforts to protect children and his dedicated service to the community. Detective Payne is a Bonneville County Sheriff’s detective and is assigned to Idaho’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. During his nearly two decades of experience in law enforcement, Detective Payne led or played a major role in hundreds of investigations that resulted in the identification and prosecution of offenders who sexually exploited children. Beyond investigative work in his own cases, he mentored and trained other investigators and devoted countless hours to teaching parents and children internet safety practices to prevent child exploitation and victimization.
“Protecting our vulnerable children is among the highest priorities for the United States Attorney’s Office and our collective law enforcement community,” said U.S. Attorney Davis. “Without the outstanding work of Detective Payne, many of these crimes would go unsolved and additional children would be victimized. His experience, expertise, and commitment to protecting
children truly makes him a hero for our community and our state. As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we also recognize Detective Korey Payne and the many other law enforcement officers, first responders, and public servants whose daily work helps protect our communities and safeguard the freedoms we enjoy in this great nation.”
“As a member of my Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Korey does some of the hardest work in all of law enforcement,” said Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador. “He has confronted what others look away from, built the cases that hold offenders accountable, and brought a rare combination of skill, relentlessness, and compassion to every investigation. On behalf of the State of Idaho, congratulations to Korey on this well-earned recognition.”
To recognize Detective Payne, U.S. Attorney Davis provided him with a letter of commendation, a commemorative Hometown Hero medallion, and a United States Attorney’s Office challenge coin.
###
Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Importation of Obscene MattersRead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced that Josiah Paul Yeasley, 37, of Nampa, was sentenced to a combined seven-year sentence in federal prison for two counts of Importation of Obscene Matters.
According to court records, in May of 2023, Yeasley was serving a term of supervised release for his prior Access with Intent to View Child Pornography conviction. In connection with that sentence, Yeasley had monitoring software installed on his cell phone. After receiving an alert from the software, a probation officer discovered Yeasley had computer-generated images that depicted the sexual abuse of minors on his cell phone.
During a consensual interview with law enforcement, Yeasley admitted to searching for and acquiring obscene images depicting the sexual abuse of children. He admitted to visiting various websites that featured girls, teens, and kids.
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Yeasley to a lifetime term of supervised release on his prior case. Yeasley pleaded guilty to the charge on January 29, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Robins prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Boise Man Sentence to 3 Years for Dealing Firearms without a LicenseRead the Press Release
BOISE – Luke Estep, 28, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison for dealing firearms without a license, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, over two years, Estep trafficked in more than 199 firearms. Estep purchased firearms from Federal Firearm Licensed Dealers in the Treasure Valley and then resold these firearms on Z-Idaho.com. Investigators recovered 16 firearms originally purchased by Estep that were later used in crimes across Idaho, including drug trafficking and violent crimes.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Estep serve 2 years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
“The illegal trafficking firearms always poses a risk to the public. By evading the reporting and documentation requirements of federal laws and regulations, Estep’s actions placed firearms in the hands of criminals who used them to commit acts of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Davis. “Estep’s sentence reflects the seriousness of that risk to the public and should serve as a warning to all that the unlawful trafficking of firearms will not be tolerated.”
“Mr. Estep contributed to the illicit flow of firearms to the black market, where they were used to commit violent crimes in our neighborhoods,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Dawn Dodsworth. “May this sentence be a warning to all those who believe dealing firearms without a license is a victimless crime: You are endangering our communities, and ATF will relentlessly pursue you to prevent future violence and harm.”
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Meridian Police Department, which led to the conviction.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Horwitz prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
###
Jury Convicts Unknown Man for Using Identity of Deceased Child for 25 Years to Obtain Nearly $300,000 in Government BenefitsRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – After a three-day trial, a federal jury sitting in Pocatello found a man whose identity remains unknown, guilty of wire fraud, theft of government funds, aggravated identity theft, and related charges, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today. U.S. District Judge David C. Nye presided over the trial, which began on May 18, and concluded with guilty verdicts on May 21.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ('Fraud Division'). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Carlos Ramon Obregon was born in 1963 in Los Angeles but was tragically killed in Los Angeles in 1977 at the age of 14 after suffering from a gunshot wound to the head during a drive-by shooting. Obregon was laid to rest at a local cemetery in Los Angeles that same year.
Twenty-three years after Obregon’s death, in 2000, the Defendant applied for a replacement social security card using Obregon’s social security number, Obregon’s date of birth, and Obregon’s parents’ names.
At trial, Obregon’s mother testified that Obregon died in 1977. She testified that the Defendant is not her son, and that she does not know the Defendant. The Defendant’s true identity remains unknown.
For more than two decades, the Defendant used Obregon’s name and identity to fraudulently obtain numerous government benefits totaling approximately $283,000. Between 2004 and 2025, the Defendant fraudulently applied for, and received, $177,000 in Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits under Obregon’s identity. Similarly, between 2005 and 2025, the Defendant unlawfully obtained approximately $91,000 in Medicaid benefits using Obregon’s identity. From 2009 to 2025, the Defendant unlawfully obtained approximately $12,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits using Obregon’s identity. In 2020 and 2021, the Defendant unlawfully received $3,200 in Economic Impact Payments that were paid to otherwise eligible individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic to stimulate the economy.
In 2012, the Defendant applied for, and obtained, a United States passport under Obregon’s identity, and travelled multiple times on the passport to Mexico. The Defendant submitted Obregon’s birth certificate to obtain the U.S. passport. In 2024, the Defendant sought to renew the passport, which was not issued. The Defendant also obtained an Idaho state identification card using Obregon’s identity in 2002, 2010, and 2014. In 2022, the Defendant obtained a Star Card and submitted Obregon’s birth certificate to the Idaho Transportation Department as proof of his identity and lawful presence in the United States.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the cooperative efforts of the Social Security Administration—Office of Inspector General, U.S. State Department Diplomatic Security Service, Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Department of Agriculture—Office of Inspector General, and Idaho Transportation Department, which led to the charges.
Assistant United States Attorneys Sean Mazorol and Brittney Campbell are prosecuting the case.
###
Boise Man Sentenced to 13.5 years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced that Terry Benjamin Ellinger, 31, of Boise, was sentenced to 162 months in federal prison for Distributing Child Pornography.
According to court records, between September 27, 2023, and December 12, 2023, Ellinger used a social media application to communicate with an individual he believed to be the father of a seven-year-old boy. In the communications, Ellinger made sexually explicit statements regarding the sexual abuse of children and sent videos of child pornography.
The individual Ellinger was communicating with was an undercover law enforcement officer. Law enforcement identified Ellinger and arrested him on April 24, 2024. During a consensual interview with law enforcement, Ellinger admitted that he was “slightly into the idea of sex with a seven-year-old boy” and further admitted receiving and distributing child pornography using social media.
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Ellinger to lifetime supervised release following his prison sentence. Ellinger pleaded guilty to the charge on September 16, 2025. As a result of his conviction, Ellinger will be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Boise Police Department, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Robins prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Pocatello Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking DrugsRead the Press Release
POCATELLO- U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today that Kacey Franklin James, of Pocatello, Idaho, was sentenced to 192 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, LSD, and Psilocybin mushrooms in eastern Idaho.
According to court records, the Idaho State Police executed a search warrant on James’ Pocatello residence in October of 2023. They found approximately 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 7.53 grams of LSD, and 1.23 pounds of MDMA, Psilocybin mushrooms, and various other drugs in the home. Officers also recovered 14 firearms, including one reportedly stolen and two short-barreled shotguns that were not properly registered to James.
A jury found James guilty of three counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, LSD, and Psilocybin, two counts of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, and one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense on January 29, 2026.
U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill sentenced James to 192 months in federal prison, ordered him to pay a $500 fine, and imposed a five-year term of supervised release following his prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of the Idaho State Police along with the assistance of the BADGES Task Force, which led to the charges.
Assistant United States Attorney Blythe McLane and Special Assistant United States Attorney Zoie Laggis prosecuted the case for the Government.
###
Moscow Man Sentenced to 210 Months in Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Devin Terrance Pickler, 40, of Moscow, Idaho, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, in the summer of 2024, law enforcement received a CyberTip flagging a social media account for possessing suspected child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”). Law enforcement investigated the flagged account and determined that it belonged to Pickler, who was living in Moscow, Idaho. In examining Pickler’s account, law enforcement found that he had uploaded hundreds of CSAM files to online groups and had posted messages online about his desire to commit sexual offenses against children. In one message, Pickler wrote about going to a “street market” to look for young children but being unable to grope any due to “too many helicopter parents.” A later search of one of Pickler’s personal online storage accounts showed that he had saved several photographs that appeared to have been covertly taken of children in public at a local street market.
In early 2025, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Pickler’s Moscow residence. They seized numerous electronic devices containing CSAM. They also seized multiple ceramic figurines of children in erotic poses, as well as a child-sized sex doll.
United States District Judge David C. Nye ordered that Pickler be placed on supervised release for the rest of his life following completion of his prison sentence. Pickler will be required to register as a sex offender because of this conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Moscow Police Department, the Latah regional SWAT team, the Lewiston Police Department, the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistants U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson and Traci Whelan prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Man Sentenced to 12 years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today that Saul Salazar-Leon, 46, of Mexico, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for crime of Receiving Child Pornography.
According to court records, in December of 2024, a woman contacted law enforcement after discovering a hidden camera in a bathroom in her home in Idaho. The woman found the camera while cleaning the bathroom her 12-year-old daughter uses. Suspecting Salazar-Leon, the woman called and confronted him about secretly recording her daughter. Salazar-Leon claimed he made a mistake and requested the woman not notify law enforcement.
Based on the woman’s report, law enforcement immediately began an investigation. The Nampa Police Department searched Salazar-Leon’s residence where they found a USB thumb drive containing hidden recordings of child pornography. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement arrested Salazar-Leon. Upon his arrest, law enforcement found an SD card in his pocket which also contained hidden recordings of child pornography.
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Salazar-Leon to serve 15 years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Salazar-Leon pleaded guilty to the charge on January 7, 2026. As a result of his conviction, Salazar-Leon will be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of Nampa Police Department, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Robins prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Man from the Republic of Congo Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Selling a Tenth of a Gram of Fentanyl That Caused the Overdose Death of His CustomerRead the Press Release
BOISE – Boniface Binene, a/k/a “Bones,” 25, a citizen of the Republic of Congo, Brazzaville, and a Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl to another person that resulted in death, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, Binene pleaded guilty to the offense on November 19, 2025. Binene admitted to selling a tenth of a gram of fentanyl powder to Andrew (Connor) Doyle, on May 3, 2024, in Meridian, Idaho. Mr. Doyle, age 31, of Boise, Idaho, used the fentanyl powder and died in his parked vehicle in front of Binene’s residence. The Ada County Coroner’s Office preformed an autopsy and determined the victim died from acute fentanyl intoxication. The victim’s mother, Kari Bryant, spoke at the sentencing hearing and advised the Court that the victim was participating actively in drug treatment and had 355 days clean, but had recently relapsed. She advised the Court that she is committed to raising awareness about the devastating impact “this weapon of mass destruction called fentanyl” has on families.
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Binene serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Binene was ordered to pay $1,773.08 in restitution for the family’s funeral expenses. Because Binene was convicted of a crime which resulted in the death of the victim, Binene will likely be deported after serving his prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Meridian Police Department, Caldwell Police Department, and the Ada County Coroner’s Office, which led to the charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian S. Nafzger prosecuted the case.
###
- Pocatello Man Sentenced to 11 years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Pornography
U.S. Attorney Bart Davis and Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney Benjamin Allen announce North Idaho SAUSARead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Bart M. Davis, United States Attorney for the District of Idaho, and Benjamin Allen, Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney, are pleased to announce that Julia Zimny has been selected as the first North Idaho Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA). In a recent meeting, U.S. Attorney Davis administered the oath of office at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Coeur d’Alene, while Allen welcomed Zimny on board as the first employee to hold this coveted position.
A coalition of governmental agencies partnered together to create and fund the North Idaho SAUSA to address drug trafficking crimes along the I-90 and US-95 corridors in North Idaho. The local government partnership includes Shoshone and Latah Counties, along with the cities of Coeur d’Alene, Kellogg, Lewiston, Mullan, Osburn, Pinehurst, Post Falls, Smelterville, Wallace, and Wardner. Additionally, the State of Idaho provided funding for the position through Governor Brad Little’s “Esto Perpetua” initiative. Finally, the position is additionally funded by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) federal grant program, administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
“I am pleased to welcome Ms. Zimny into this newly created position” said U.S. Attorney Davis. “I am very thankful for the work of the partnership that created and funded this position, which will provide a valuable resource to help address drug trafficking in North Idaho. I want to also recognize the important efforts of Benjamin Allen, Luke Malek, and former U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit in bringing this position to fruition.”
“The implementation of this position within our region is a landmark step in prioritizing the fight against drug trafficking in North Idaho. It sends a clear message to those involved in the drug trade that they are not welcome in our communities.” said Allen “By dedicating the resources necessary to detect, investigate, and now prosecute those responsible for moving drugs through our communities, we create an environment of deterrence in our region, all while shifting the burden for incarceration off of our local taxpayers by transferring these cases into the federal court system, creating significant cost savings for our constituents” Allen commented.
Under the SAUSA structure, Ms. Zimny will be an employee of the Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office but will be detailed full time to the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal drug crimes that occur in the partner jurisdictions.
The North Idaho SAUSA program joins the Treasure Valley Partnership Gang SAUSA program in Boise, which began in 2007, and the Eastern Idaho Partnership SAUSA program in Pocatello, which began in 2015. Each SAUSA program utilizes state and local resources to support a dedicated prosecutor to prosecute, convict, and sentence armed criminal and drug traffickers in their communities. By utilizing the federal criminal justice system and the United States Bureau of Prisons, the programs each create a cost avoidance benefit to the State of Idaho of approximately $2.5 million a year.
HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney position.
###
Twin Falls Woman Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOISE – Elisha Gabrielle Ortiz, 40, of Twin Falls, was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, in January 2025 investigators learned that Ortiz was trafficking methamphetamine in the Magic Valley area. The investigation revealed that Ortiz sold methamphetamine to another person on two occasions. In July 2025, investigators obtained a search warrant for a storage unit where Ortiz stored drug. Inside the storage unit, investigators found approximately two pounds of methamphetamine and 1,200 fentanyl pills that Ortiz intended to distribute into the community.
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Ortiz to serve five years of supervised release following her prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Idaho State Police, Twin Falls Special Investigations Unit, Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office, Twin Falls Police Department, Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, Jerome County Sheriff’s Office, Mini-Cassia Drug Task Force, and the Idaho Department of Corrections Probation & Parole, which led to the charge.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher A. Booker prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
###
Ten Defendants Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine in the Magic ValleyRead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced the sentences of ten defendants who conspired to distribute methamphetamine in the Magic Valley. According to court records, the defendants possessed and distributed large quantities of methamphetamine throughout the Magic Valley area. During the investigation, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers seized over 30 pounds of methamphetamine from the drug trafficking organization. Several individuals involved in the conspiracy traveled to Arizona and California to obtain methamphetamine that they brought back to Idaho for distribution.
Today, Oscar Alejandro Perez-Gomez, 33, of Jerome, was sentenced to 292 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Perez-Gomez to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
The following defendants were previously sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy:
- Luis Enrique Gonzalez, 41, of Jerome, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and on October 16, 2025, was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release;
- Leonardo Espinoza-Romero, 33, of Jerome, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and on May 14, 2025, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release;
- Daniel D. Thomas, 49, of Jerome, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and on June 17, 2025, was sentenced to 110 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release;
- Jesus Arturo Torres-Herrera, 37, a Mexican National, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and on January 14, 2026, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He will be deported to Mexico upon his release from prison;
- Liliana Morales-Caliz, 36, a Mexican National, was convicted of distribution of methamphetamine, and on December 17, 2025, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison and will be deported to Mexico upon her release;
- Artemio Morgan Hurtado, Jr., 35, of Shoshone, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and on April 24, 2025, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release;
- Robert Troglia, 54, of Jerome, was convicted of distribution of methamphetamine, and on May 15, 2025, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release;
- Patrick Delacruz, 41, of Jerome, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and on June 5, 2025, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release; and
- Raquel May, 29, of Twin Falls, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and on June 17, 2025, was sentenced to three years of probation.
As part of the same investigation, nine additional defendants were prosecuted in Idaho state courts for crimes including possession of controlled substances and trafficking in methamphetamine.
The cases were primarily investigated by the Idaho State Police and Drug Enforcement Administration. In addition to the work of these agencies, U.S. Attorney Davis thanked the following agencies for assisting in the investigation: Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office, Twin Falls Police Department, Twin Falls County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Jerome County Sheriff’s Office, Jerome Police Department, Jerome County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Cassia County Sheriff’s Office, Cassia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Minidoka County Sheriff’s Office, Minidoka County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher A. Booker and Francis J. Zebari prosecuted the cases.
###
Eagle Man Sentenced to 52 Months for Embezzlement and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
BOISE – Miles Elletson, 55, of Eagle, Idaho, was sentenced to 52 months in federal prison for wire fraud and filing false tax returns, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, between June 2017 and December 2020, Elletson knowingly and fraudulently devised a scheme to defraud Business-1 of approximately $478,013 and willfully filed false tax returns resulting in a tax loss of $161,354. To fraudulently obtain money, Elletson entered false entries on work orders and submitted fraudulent invoices claiming that Advanced Purchasing Services LLC (APS) performed work for Business-1, when Elletson knew that was not true. That caused Business-1 to issue checks to APS for the fraudulent invoices, checks that Elletson often signed on behalf of Business-1. Elletson provided the checks to the registered owner of APS who deposited the checks. Elletson then instructed that individual to write checks from the APS account to other accounts, fraudulently claiming he used the specified accounts to buy the supplies APS sold to Business-1. In actuality, the accounts were Elletson’s personal accounts, and the charges on the accounts were personal expenses.
In addition, Elletson willfully filed false tax returns because he failed to report the fraudulent income on his U.S. Individual Tax Income Tax Returns, Form 1040 for tax years 2017 through 2020. Elletson’s fraudulent actions resulted in a tax loss of $161,354, which he will repay as restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Elletson serve 2 years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Elletson pleaded guilty to the charges on June 11, 2025.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute cases where individuals defraud and embezzle from businesses and taxpayers,” said U.S Attorney Davis. “We commend the work of our law enforcement partners for their work in helping bring financial crimes defendants to justice.”
“Elletson devised a scheme to abuse his position for personal gain and placed an unfair burden on honest taxpayers,” said Amanda Prestegard, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI Denver Field Office. “Financial crimes carry severe consequences, and this case is the latest example of what happens when someone thinks they are above the law.”
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and Garden City Police Department, which led to the charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darci Crane prosecuted the case.
###
Four Defendants Sentenced to Federal Prison for Their Role in Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced the sentences of four defendants who assisted each other in distributing methamphetamine in southern Idaho. Two of the defendants lived in eastern Oregon and traveled to Idaho to help conduct a drug transaction.
According to court records, beginning in 2023, Aaron Wesley Newman, 58, of Boise, sold controlled substances to another person on three separate occasions. During the last transaction, investigators identified three other individuals who aided Newman in distributing the methamphetamine. Jessica Leticia Cuevas, 39, of Nyssa, Oregon obtained payment from Newman for the drugs. Selena N. Medrano, 30, of Ontario, Oregon supplied the methamphetamine to Newman. Clark Christopher Brown, 44, of Boise, helped Newman weigh and package the methamphetamine before distribution.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill sentenced Newman to 156 months in federal prison. Newman was also ordered to complete five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Judge Winmill previously sentenced Newman’s codefendants to prison. On October 28, 2025, he sentenced Brown to 77 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release and sentenced Medrano to 29 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. On November 13, 2025, he sentenced Cuevas to 12 months and one day in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Nampa Police Department, Idaho State Police, Idaho Department of Corrections Probation & Parole, Nyssa Police Department, and High Desert Drug Task Force, which led to the charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher A. Booker prosecuted the case.
###
Arkansas Man Pleads Guilty to Insider TradingRead the Press Release
Washington- An Arkansas man pleaded guilty today to securities fraud in connection with insider trading based on material, nonpublic information that he misappropriated from a senior executive at a publicly traded company headquartered in Idaho.
According to court documents, Douglas Dalton, 48, of Bentonville, Arkansas, was close personal friends with Michael Smith, the then-President and Chief Operating Officer of Company-1. During a July 26, 2024, telephone call between Dalton and Smith, Dalton learned material nonpublic information regarding Company-1’s impending acquisition by another company at a price of approximately $31 per share. Given Smith’s senior role at Company-1 and their close personal relationship, Dalton knew that this information was confidential and material.
Based on the material nonpublic information he received from Smith, Dalton purchased Company-1 call options for approximately $19,985.30. After Company-1’s acquisition was publicly announced on August 7, 2024, Dalton sold the stock options he had purchased for a profit of approximately $96,515.44, representing a nearly 500% return on his illegal insider trading.
Dalton pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17. In November 2025, Michael Smith pleaded guilty to the same offense. They each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis for the District of Idaho; and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group (USPIS-CI) made the announcement.
USPIS-CI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Kyle Crawford and John Liolos of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.
###
Arkansas Man Pleads Guilty to Insider TradingRead the Press Release
An Arkansas man pleaded guilty today to securities fraud in connection with insider trading based on material, nonpublic information that he misappropriated from a senior executive at a publicly traded company headquartered in Idaho.
According to court documents, Douglas Dalton, 48, of Bentonville, Arkansas, was close personal friends with Michael Smith, the then-President and Chief Operating Officer of Company-1. During a July 26, 2024, telephone call between Dalton and Smith, Dalton learned material nonpublic information regarding Company-1’s impending acquisition by another company at a price of approximately $31 per share. Given Smith’s senior role at Company-1 and their close personal relationship, Dalton knew that this information was confidential and material.
Based on the material nonpublic information he received from Smith, Dalton purchased Company-1 call options for approximately $19,985.30. After Company-1’s acquisition was publicly announced on August 7, 2024, Dalton sold the stock options he had purchased for a profit of approximately $96,515.44, representing a nearly 500% return on his illegal insider trading.
Dalton pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17. In November 2025, Michael Smith pleaded guilty to the same offense. They each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis for the District of Idaho; and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group (USPIS-CI) made the announcement.
USPIS-CI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Kyle Crawford and John Liolos of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.
Meridian Man Pleads Guilty to Bribing Commercial Driver's License Skills TesterRead the Press Release
BOISE – Ryan Basnaw, 29, of Meridian, pleaded guilty to federal program bribery, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced.
According to court records, to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Idaho, an applicant must, among other requirements, receive a passing score from a CDL skills test examiner. The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) contracts with third-party CDL skills test examiners to administer CDL skills tests in Idaho.
On July 2, 2025, Basnaw offered and agreed to give a CDL skills tester $500 cash in exchange for a passing score on a CDL skills test without ever taking the test. Basnaw did so corruptly and with the intent to influence and reward the CDL skills tester, so that Basnaw could have three restrictions removed from his CDL without taking the required CDL skills test.
In 2025, the Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles, a department of ITD, received more than $10,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation under a CDL Program Implementation Grant.
Basnaw is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Transportation—Office of Inspector General, which led to charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol prosecuted the case.
###
Fentanyl Traffickers Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today that Marcos Gallegos, 43, of Pueblo, Colorado, and Morgan Galloway, 25, of Pocatello, Idaho, were sentenced to federal prison for possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute it. U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Gallegos to 188 months in federal prison and Galloway to 60 months in federal prison.
According to court records, on August 22, 2024, probation and parole officers with the Idaho Department of Correction searched an apartment where Gallegos and Galloway were living in Pocatello after receiving a tip from the Pocatello Police Department that both Gallegos and Galloway were selling drugs. During the search, law enforcement found and seized 122.78 grams of fentanyl along with a firearm. The Pocatello Police Department obtained a warrant to search a storage unit rented by Gallegos and Galloway where they found and seized $28,000 in drug proceeds.
Judge Nye ordered Gallegos’ 188-month prison sentence to be served consecutively to the sentences that he is currently, which are two seven-year sentences for two Bannock County drug-related cases. Judge Nye also ordered Gallegos to complete five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Judge Nye ordered Galloway to complete four years of supervise release following her 60-month prison sentence.
Both Gallegos and Galloway pleaded guilty to the charge on December 11, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Idaho Department of Corrections Probation and Parole, Pocatello Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe McLane prosecuted the case.
The Pocatello Police Department is part of the BADGES HIDTA Task Force. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives. The BADGES HIDTA Task Force is made up of federal, state, and local police agencies including the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, Pocatello Police Department, Chubbuck Police Department, and the Idaho State Police.
###
Boise Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
BOISE – Gary Stanley Williams, 49, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, the investigation began when a citizen reported that Williams was involved in concerning online activity. The citizen provided screenshots of Williams’ online activity that showed him interacting with several online accounts that appeared to be operated by minor females. An undercover detective with the Boise Police Department (“BPD”) later contacted Williams online purporting to be a 14-year-old female. For several days, Williams engaged in sexually explicit conversation with the purported 14-year-old and discussed his interest in child sexual abuse material. Based on the communications, BPD obtained a federal search warrant to seize and search Williams’ electronic devices. During a forensic examination of Williams’ cellphone, BPD located numerous files of child sexual abuse material, including depictions of prepubescent children and toddlers.
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Williams to serve a lifetime period of supervised release following his prison sentence and to pay $45,000 in restitution to the victims in the images that he possessed. Williams will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of his conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Boise Police Department, which led to the charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kassandra McGrady prosecuted the case.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Lewiston Man Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Prison for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Michael Benjamin Hendren, 35, of Lewiston, Idaho, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for attempted sexual exploitation of a child, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, as part of their efforts to combat exploitation of children online, investigators with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) in Colorado ran undercover profiles pretending to be minors on a social media application in May of 2024. A user, later identified as Hendren, initiated contact with two separate undercover investigators at JCSO during this time. In both conversations, Hendren repeatedly solicited sexually explicit materials from the purported minors and sent them sexually explicit images of himself.
The same month, Hendren chatted on the same social media application with an investigator from the Evesham Township Police Department in New Jersey, who also maintained an undercover social media profile on the application to combat online child exploitation. In that chat, Hendren again attempted to persuade the purported minor to produce sexually explicit materials for him.
Hendren chatted with a fourth user, who was not an uncover law enforcement officer, on the same social media application. Hendren sent sexually explicit images of himself and attempted to persuade the user to produce sexually explicit images for him.
Following a thorough investigation, law enforcement identified the fourth user as a fifteen-year-old girl. They discovered that Hendren had engaged in sexually explicit conversations with several other purported children on the online messaging application.
Chief United States District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford ordered that Hendren be placed on supervised release for 10 years following completion of his prison sentence. Hendren will be required to register as a sex offender because of this conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the collaboration of the Lewiston Police Department, the Idaho State Police, the Moscow Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Evesham Township Police Department, the Nez Perce County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney April Smith prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Homedale Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
BOISE – Richard Marlin Kellogg, 50, of Homedale, Idaho, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, the investigation began when the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (“ICAC”) received a CyberTip report from a cloud storage platform. A CyberTip is a report submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”). NCMEC gathers leads and tips regarding suspected online crimes against children and forwards them to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement determined that a cloud account, later identified as belonging to Kellogg, had been used to upload and store child sexual abuse material.
Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the contents of Kellogg’s cloud account and located numerous files of child sexual abuse material. ICAC subsequently executed a search warrant at Kellogg’s Homedale residence. During the execution of the search warrant, Kellogg refused to exit the residence and was later found hiding in a hidden room inside the residence. Investigators seized his cellphone and located hundreds of files of child sexual abuse material on the cellphone.
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Kellogg to serve a lifetime period of supervised release following his prison sentence and to pay $6,000 in restitution to the victims in the images that he possessed. Kellogg will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of his conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Idaho ICAC Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations in Boise and Spokane, which led to the charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kassandra McGrady prosecuted the case.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Guatemalan National Arrested and Charged for Employing Illegal Aliens at Caldwell BusinessRead the Press Release
BOISE – Brayan Adiel Gramajo-Reyes, 31, of Guatemala, was arrested Saturday on federal immigration charges, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. A federal grand jury in Pocatello returned an indictment charging Gramajo-Reyes with two counts of encouraging illegal entry of aliens to enter the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(a); eight counts of using false statements for employment verification by attesting that social security numbers were genuine and that the employees were authorized to work in the United States, knowing that was false, in violation of 18 U.S.C § 1546(b)(3); and one count of unlawful employment of aliens, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A).
The charges stem from allegations that Gramajo-Reyes persuaded two unaccompanied alien children to travel from Guatemala to the United States with prospects of opportunity, only to require them to work long hours of physical labor after arriving in Idaho. The other charges stem from allegations that Gramajo-Reyes employed numerous illegal aliens at his business.
Gramajo-Reyes is scheduled for an initial court appearance on March 5, 2026 at 10am before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Raymond E. Patricco of the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. If convicted of counts one through ten, Gramajo-Reyes faces a maximum of five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count. If convicted of count eleven, he faces up to six months in prison and a $3,000 fine for each alien that he unlawfully employed. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Enforcement and Removal Operations), which led to the charges.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by Idaho’s Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
###
California Woman Sentenced to over 8 Years for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
POCATELLO - U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today that Marissa Nicole Delagarza, 38, of Visalia, California, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine. Her co-defendant, Maryjane Maria Gomez, 24, of Tulare, California, was sentenced to 8 months in prison.
According to court records, on July 2, 2024, an Idaho State Police trooper stopped a car driven by Gomez in Chubbuck, Idaho. Delagarza was a passenger in the car. The Trooper eventually searched the car and found almost 18 pounds of methamphetamine in a backpack that was stored in the trunk. Investigators also obtained evidence from one of the cellphones that had been located in the vehicle, which showed that the two women were transporting the methamphetamine from California to South Dakota for the purpose of distribution and that Delagarza paid Gomez to drive her and the methamphetamine to South Dakota.
Both Delagarza and Gomez pleaded guilty to the charge of Possession with the Intent to Distribute on December 11, 2025.
Senior U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill sentenced both women. He sentenced Delagarza to 100 months in prison, a $500 fine, and five years of supervised release following her prison sentence. Judge Winmill sentenced Gomez to 8 months in prison for her role as the driver. He ordered Gomez to pay a $500 fine and to serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of the Idaho State Police, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe McLane prosecuted the case.
###
Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to Nearly 16 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Cesar Delfin-Cervantes, 28, of Salem, Oregon, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, Delfin-Cervantes was a leader in a multi-state and international drug trafficking organization. His father, Juan Carlos-Delfin, was also a member of the drug trafficking organization. Law enforcement’s investigation revealed that the organization arranged for large shipments of methamphetamine to be delivered through a network of couriers from Mexico to California and then to Salem, Oregon, where Delfin-Cervantes and his father resided. From there, Delfin-Cervantes organized delivery of the drugs to the Treasure Valley area. Over a span of approximately five months, investigators seized over 215 pounds of methamphetamine from the drug trafficking organization. Over a period of approximately two years, the organization transported and sold hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine.
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Delfin-Cervantes to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Delfin-Cervantes’ father was convicted in the District of Idaho of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute after a federal jury trial in December of 2025 and is set for sentencing on April 21, 2026. Delfin-Cervantes’ sister, Esmeralda Delfin-Cervantes, is also alleged to be a member of the drug trafficking organization and has federal drug trafficking charges pending in the District of Oregon.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (the Boise and Salem Resident Agencies), the Nampa Police Department Special Investigations Unit, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, the Boise Police Department, the Meridian Police Department, the Oregon High Desert Drug Task Force, the Salem Police Department, and the Oregon State Police, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Morse and Christopher Booker prosecuted this case.
The High Desert Drug Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-supported approach. They are supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
###
Suspect Arrested and Charged with Attempting to Set Fire to a Building Utilized by DHSRead the Press Release
BOISE – Sarah Elizabeth George, 43, of Boise, was arrested Monday in Boise on federal criminal charges, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. According to the criminal complaint, on February 18, 2026, George stole and then drove an ambulance into the Portico building in Meridian, Idaho, before she dumped gasoline in the ambulance and building intending to light a fire. News outlets had reported that the Department of Homeland Security leased a portion of the Portico building prior to George’s actions.
Yesterday, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging George with two counts of attempted malicious damage by fire. The first count alleges that George maliciously attempted to damage or destroy federal property by means of fire, that created a substantial risk of injury, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(f)(2). If convicted, George faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and up to 40 years in federal prison. The second count alleges that George maliciously attempted to damage or destroy, by means of fire, property used in and affecting interstate commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(i). If convicted, George faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison. Both charges also carry a fine up to $250,000. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“The United States Attorney’s Office will vigorously prosecute any crime that places government employees in danger or is aimed at destroying federal property,” said U.S. Attorney Davis.
“The FBI worked swiftly alongside our law enforcement partners to identify and arrest the person allegedly responsible for this crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Given the potentially devastating consequences of this defendant’s actions, this case was a priority. The FBI remains steadfast in ensuring the safety of our personnel and the public.”
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Meridian Police Department; and the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office, which led to the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys David Robins and Francis Zebari are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Drug Trafficker Sentenced to over 17 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today that Franklin Ryan, 45, of Sparks, Nevada, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl in eastern Idaho.
According to court records, Ryan sold large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in eastern Idaho between March and September of 2024, including eight pounds of methamphetamine he sold to another person. Investigators recovered financial records that showed that over $100,000 in drug proceeds were funneled through accounts controlled by Ryan, indicating he was involved in a large-scale drug distribution operation. Ryan also illegally possessed and sold firearms as a part of his methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution business.
Ryan pleaded guilty to the charge on August 26, 2025. Four other defendants are charged as co-conspirators in the same case. Their cases are still pending.
U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Ryan serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Idaho State Police, which led to the charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe McLane prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated through the Federal Bureau of Investigation in coordination with the Idaho State Police and the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multiagency drug enforcement initiatives, including the BADGES Task Force.
The BADGES Task Force is a collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies
that focuses primarily on drug trafficking crimes in Bannock County and throughout the region.
###
Boise Man Sentenced to 24 Months Incarceration for Possession of an Unregistered Improvised Explosive DeviceRead the Press Release
BOISE – Jonathan W. VanCuren, 69, of Boise, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for Possession of an Unregistered Firearm (Improvised Explosive Device “IED”), U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, on February 8, 2024, and again on February 10, 2024, law enforcement officers served search warrants on a residence occupied by VanCuren in Boise, Idaho. In both a wooden box and a metal box that belonged to VanCuren, law enforcement found a total of seven IEDs that each contained an explosive main charge, main charge container and initiation system. All seven IEDs were assembled and in operating condition.
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered VanCuren serve 2 years of supervised release following his prison sentence. VanCuren pleaded guilty to the charge on September 18, 2025.
“We are thankful to our law enforcement partners who identified and investigated this threat to public safety,” commented U.S. Attorney Davis. “Their efforts led to a successful prosecution and a safe removal of IEDs from our community.”
"Manufacturing explosives inside a home is not only illegal, but it puts the individual, their family, neighbors, and first responders at extreme risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. “With one careless mistake, Vancuren’s blatant disregard for the law and public safety could have ended in catastrophe. The FBI and our state and local partners, who brought us into this investigation, will not tolerate those who threaten our community’s safety.”
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of the Boise Police Department, including the Boise Police Bomb Squad, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather S. Patricco and David G. Robins prosecuted the case.
###
Caldwell Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison for Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BOISE – Emanuel Avalos, 30, of Caldwell was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced.
According to court records, in April of 2025, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Nampa Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit began investigating Avalos for distributing methamphetamine in the Treasure Valley. On April 3, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Avalos’s residence in Caldwell, Idaho. In the residence, law enforcement found Avalos attempting to flush a bag of methamphetamine down the toilet. In Avalos’s bedroom, investigators found more methamphetamine, an AR style rifle with three loaded magazines, and approximately $8,210.00.
In total, law enforcement recovered 975 grams (over two pounds) of methamphetamine which Avalos possessed with the intent to distribute to others.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Idaho State Police which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kane Venecia prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with funds provided by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney position.
###
Three North Idaho Child Exploitation Defendants Sentenced to over Forty Years in Federal Prison CombinedRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced the results of three separate child exploitation cases in North Idaho today.
- Registered Sex Offender in Lewiston Sentenced to 300 Months in Federal Prison for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child
Jesse Eugene Burnett, 42, of Lewiston, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for attempted sexual exploitation of a child.
According to court records, in April 2024, FBI agents were contacted by a mother who discovered her 10-year-old daughter had been exchanging sexually explicit images with an adult male on a messaging application. Although the child told the male that she was thirty, the male commented that she looked young. Using legal process, law enforcement identified Burnett, a registered sex offender living in Lewiston. Law enforcement posed as the child using the child’s phone. When Burnett was told by “the child” she was actually only thirteen-years-old, Burnett replied, “so no more pics then.” However, within days, he again requested explicit images. Burnett was arrested in June 2024 and admitted that he believed he was speaking with a child and continued to solicit sexually explicit images.
District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Burnett be placed on supervised release for 15 years following his prison sentence. Burnett will continue to be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the joint efforts of the Lewiston Police Department, the Des Moines Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted this case.
- Moscow Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material (CSAM)
Nathanael Dewayne Jensen, 26, of Moscow, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for possession of CSAM.
Court records show that in August 2024, law enforcement received CyberTips from multiple online platforms reporting the presence of CSAM in certain accounts on their platforms. Using numerous search warrants and other investigative tools, law enforcement determined the accounts belonged to Jensen, who lived in Moscow. A search of Jensen’s cell phone pursuant to a search warrant revealed CSAM videos and images on the phone, along with evidence showing that Jensen had exchanged CSAM files with another user.
District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Jensen be placed on supervised release for 15 years following his prison sentence. Jensen will be required to register as a sex offender because of this conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis thanked the Moscow Police Department, the Latah Regional SWAT team, and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office for their collaboration in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson and Special Assistant United States Attorney Madison Allen Gourley prosecuted this case.
- Culdesac Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of CSAM
Riley Neal O’Brien, 36, of Culdesac, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for possession of CSAM.
According to court records, in June 2022, law enforcement received a CyberTip from a social media company reporting that a user of their platform was possessing child pornography. After a thorough investigation, law enforcement identified the user as O’Brien. Law enforcement determined that O’Brien possessed CSAM images and videos on his online account and distributed CSAM to others more than 70 times between March and April of 2022.
District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that O’Brien be placed on supervised release for 5 years following his prison sentence. O’Brien will also be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Nez Perce County Sherrif’s Office, the Lewiston Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted this case.
###
Three North Idaho Child Exploitation Defendants Sentenced to over Forty Years in Federal Prison CombinedRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced the results of three separate child exploitation cases in North Idaho today.
- Registered Sex Offender in Lewiston Sentenced to 300 Months in Federal Prison for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child
Jesse Eugene Burnett, 42, of Lewiston, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for attempted sexual exploitation of a child.
According to court records, in April 2024, FBI agents were contacted by a mother who discovered her 10-year-old daughter had been exchanging sexually explicit images with an adult male on a messaging application. Although the child told the male that she was thirty, the male commented that she looked young. Using legal process, law enforcement identified Burnett, a registered sex offender living in Lewiston. Law enforcement posed as the child using the child’s phone. When Burnett was told by “the child” she was actually only thirteen-years-old, Burnett replied, “so no more pics then.” However, within days, he again requested explicit images. Burnett was arrested in June 2024 and admitted that he believed he was speaking with a child and continued to solicit sexually explicit images.
District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Burnett be placed on supervised release for 15 years following his prison sentence. Burnett will continue to be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the joint efforts of the Lewiston Police Department, the Des Moines Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted this case.
- Moscow Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material (CSAM)
Nathanael Dewayne Jensen, 26, of Moscow, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for possession of CSAM.
Court records show that in August 2024, law enforcement received CyberTips from multiple online platforms reporting the presence of CSAM in certain accounts on their platforms. Using numerous search warrants and other investigative tools, law enforcement determined the accounts belonged to Jensen, who lived in Moscow. A search of Jensen’s cell phone pursuant to a search warrant revealed CSAM videos and images on the phone, along with evidence showing that Jensen had exchanged CSAM files with another user.
District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Jensen be placed on supervised release for 15 years following his prison sentence. Jensen will be required to register as a sex offender because of this conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis thanked the Moscow Police Department, the Latah Regional SWAT team, and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office for their collaboration in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson and Special Assistant United States Attorney Madison Allen Gourley prosecuted this case.
- Culdesac Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of CSAM
Riley Neal O’Brien, 36, of Culdesac, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for possession of CSAM.
According to court records, in June 2022, law enforcement received a CyberTip from a social media company reporting that a user of their platform was possessing child pornography. After a thorough investigation, law enforcement identified the user as O’Brien. Law enforcement determined that O’Brien possessed CSAM images and videos on his online account and distributed CSAM to others more than 70 times between March and April of 2022.
District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that O’Brien be placed on supervised release for 5 years following his prison sentence. O’Brien will also be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Nez Perce County Sherrif’s Office, the Lewiston Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted this case.
###
Pinehurst Man Sentenced to 78 Months in Federal Prison for Unlawful Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Michael William Luma, 48, of Pinehurst, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, in November 2023, law enforcement was notified about gunshots coming from Luma’s Pinehurst residence on multiple nights. Luma is prohibited from possessing firearms based on a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault. After securing a search warrant, law enforcement searched Luma’s residence and found a large drill press, a 3-D printer, several “ghost gun” components, thousands of rounds of ammunition, large capacity magazines, and sixteen firearms, including multiple machine guns and silencers. When contacted at his home, Luma was in possession of a loaded handgun magazine as well as eleven fentanyl pills, half a gram of methamphetamine, and a methamphetamine pipe.
Chief District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered that Luma be placed on 3 years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Luma will continue to be prohibited from possessing firearms following his conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
###
Moscow Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Cameron James Kittell, 21, of Moscow, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, in early 2024, law enforcement received a CyberTip from a social media provider indicating that somebody was using their service to transmit or possess CSAM. Using legal process, including numerous search warrants, law enforcement ultimately identified Kittell as the subject of the CyberTip and discovered that Kittell had distributed CSAM on multiple social media platforms. In July 2024, law enforcement located Kittell in Moscow, Idaho and arrested him. On Kittell’s phone, law enforcement found over 500 images and 60 videos depicting apparent CSAM. Forensic evidence showed that the Defendant had paid money to online traffickers for CSAM. Later investigation revealed that the Defendant was seeking childcare jobs online and had been messaging an individual about a childcare job hours before his arrest.
Chief District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Kittell to serve 25 years of supervised release following his prison sentence and ordered him to pay $6,000 in restitution to the victims depicted in the materials he possessed. Kittell will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Moscow Police Department, the Lewiston Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Boise Man Pleads Guilty to Transportation for Commercial Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
BOISE – Lajai Jamar Pridgette, 40, of Boise, pleaded guilty to transportation for commercial sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, between May 14, 2024, and December 19, 2024, Pridgette engaged in a scheme to make money from commercial sexual activity. Pridgette arranged for two adult females to travel to multiple states to engage in commercial sexual activity. Pridgette also made hotel reservations and posted online advertisements to facilitate the commercial sexual activity. Pridgette received approximately $79,000 in proceeds from the commercial sexual activity.
Pridgette is scheduled to be sentenced on March 9, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a minimum of five years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the cooperative efforts of the Meridian Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Garden City Police Department, United States Probation, and the Idaho Department of Corrections Probation and Parole, which led to charge.
###
Two Indicted for $20 Million Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
BOISE –United States Attorney Bart M. Davis announced that Tochukwu Nwaneri, 51, of Nigeria, made his initial appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Raymond E. Patricco. Co-defendant Vickie Smith, 66, of Peoria, Arizona, previously made her initial appearance on October 22, 2025. Nwaneri and Smith face prosecution in an indictment for their role in an advance-fee loan scheme in which they fraudulently obtained more than $20 million from an Idaho business owner (Victim-1).
Vickie Smith and Tochukwu Nwaneri are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering.
As alleged in the indictment, Smith, using the alias Nina Cheliyan, and Nwaneri, using the alias Dr. Simon Godwin, enriched themselves by falsely promising to provide Victim-1 with a financing opportunity of a $140 million business loan through a purported Singapore-based lender in exchange for significant advance fees. The indictment alleges that Smith and Nwaneri used the fees paid by Victim-1 for various personal expenses and wired the funds to family members and offshore bank accounts.
If convicted, Smith and Nwaneri each face a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy and wire fraud counts and up to 10 years for each count of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The United States Secret Service is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittney Campbell and Darci Crane for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Two Idaho Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced the outcomes in two separate cases in which defendants were sentenced to 87 months and 78 months in federal prison, respectively, for possessing child sexual abuse material.
Aaron Jacob Balcom, 28, of Caldwell, was sentenced to 87 months in prison. According to court records, the investigation began when Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) received CyberTip reports from an online messaging platform. A CyberTip is a report submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”). NCMEC gathers leads and tips regarding suspected online crimes against children and forwards them to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement determined that online accounts, later identified as belonging to Balcom, had been used to upload and distribute child sexual abuse material.
Law enforcement obtained search warrants for the contents of Balcom’s online accounts and located hundreds of files of child sexual abuse material, along with chat conversations where Balcom discussed his sexual interest in children. HSI subsequently executed a search warrant at Balcom’s Caldwell residence and seized his cellphone. HSI located additional files of child sexual abuse material on the cellphone.
Chief U.S. District David C. Nye also ordered Balcom to serve ten years of supervised release following his prison sentence and to pay $6,000 in restitution to the victims in the images that he possessed. Balcom will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of his conviction.
In a separate and unrelated case, Paul Vargas Jr., 34, of Payette, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for the same crime. According to court records, this investigation also began when HSI received a CyberTip involving Vargas’ online account, which had been used to upload and distribute child sexual abuse material. Pursuant to a search warrant, HSI seized Vargas’ cellphone and located evidence that the cellphone had previously been used to store child sexual abuse material.
Judge Nye ordered Vargas to be placed on supervised release for 15 years after the end of his prison term and to pay $6,000 in restitution to the victims in the images he possessed. Vargas will also be required to register as a sex offender as a result of his conviction.
“The endless distribution of child sexual abuse material can impact victims for life,” said U.S. Attorney Davis. “We are deeply committed to seeking justice for the victims in these images and to holding offenders accountable for their egregious conduct. Our law enforcement partners share the same goal, and I am grateful for their hard work.”
“These two sentencings illustrate how a single cyber tip can result in investigative action to remove predators from our communities and protect children,” said HSI Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “HSI and our partners are relentless in our mission to combat the heinous crime of online child sexual exploitation and abuse. We encourage everyone to help protect children online by immediately reporting suspected crimes or potential victims so law enforcement can act.”
Both cases were investigated by HSI in Boise with assistance from the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The Payette Police Department and the Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office also assisted with the Vargas investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kassandra McGrady prosecuted these cases.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Mountain Home Man Sentenced to 27 Months for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
BOISE – Javier D. Ruiz, 35, of Mountain Home, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for Wire Fraud, U.S. Attorney Bart Davis announced today.
According to court records, Ruiz stole $685,376 from his employer, a franchisee of national restaurant chains. As a district manager, Ruiz supervised a number of restaurants in Idaho, including overseeing payroll. From at least April 2021 through April 2024, Ruiz devised a scheme wherein he manipulated his employer’s payroll system, changing the names and other information associated with employee numbers of former employees. After manipulating the employee numbers, Ruiz entered hours using the numbers that were never worked, causing fraudulent payroll payments to issue. To access and take the fraudulent payroll money, Ruiz used at least three different methods – cashing checks, depositing earnings on fraudulent Rapid Paycards, and direct deposit.
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Ruiz to serve two years of supervised release following his prison sentence and $685,376 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darci Crane prosecuted the case.
###