District of Idaho

POCATELLO - Reynalda Estrada-Gutierrez, 38, of Bakersfield, California, was sentenced today to 192 months in prison for drug trafficking and money laundering, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Estrada-Gutierrez to forfeit $92,880 in cash proceeds of the charged offenses, and imposed a $500 fine.  Judge Winmill further ordered Estrada-Gutierrez to turn over a firearm she possessed in connection with her crimes, and to forfeit her residence, which was acquired with drug trafficking proceeds and used to launder money.  Judge Winmill ordered Estrada-Gutierrez to serve five years of supervised release if she is not deported to Mexico once she has completed her prison term.  She pleaded guilty on December 9, 2014.

According to court records, Estrada-Gutierrez distributed just over 900 grams of methamphetamine in the Burley, Idaho, area between April and November 2013.  During the same time period, she arranged to be paid for the methamphetamine through cash deposits and wire transfers into various bank accounts.  Estrada-Gutierrez’s codefendants have all pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug trafficking and money laundering activities.

Codefendant Angelina Nava was sentenced January 15, 2015, to 28 months in prison and three years of supervised release.  Codefendant Porfirio Gutierrez was sentenced on March 10, 2015, to 90 months in prison and four years of supervised release.  Codefendant Raquel Rios was sentenced on November 18, 2014, to 27 months in prison.  The last codefendant, Araxy Suarez, is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello on June 2, 2015.

The case was investigated by the Minidoka and Cassia County Sheriffs’ Offices and Idaho State Police, with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

BOISE - Travis John Attanasio, 53, of Chubbuck, Idaho, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Boise for wire fraud and theft of government funds, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

The indictment alleges that between June 29, 2012, and October 30, 2014, Attanasio defrauded a disabled veteran and the federal government of $259,563.12.  Attanasio served as the fiduciary for the veteran and instead of conserving the veteran’s funds and monthly benefits from the Veteran’s Administration and Social Security Administration, he spent them at various retail and online vendors.  The indictment further alleges that during the time Attanasio received and spent the funds, he knew that the veteran lived in a state veteran’s home and was disabled.

The charge of wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000.00, and up to three years of supervised release.  The charge of theft of government funds is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000.00 and up to three years of supervised release.

The case is being jointly investigated by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Inspector General and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General with assistance from the Pocatello Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney as part of a partnership venture between the Social Security Administration Office of General Counsel and the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute social security fraud.

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

BOISE – Monique Christine Martinez, 32, of Nampa, Idaho, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Martinez was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 13, 2014.

According to court documents, Martinez contacted an individual by Facebook in California in order to hire someone to kill her husband.  On October 17, 2014, Martinez met with an undercover agent, whom she believed was a hit man. Martinez advised the undercover agent that she wanted her husband dead and provided the agent with $350 in U.S. currency and promised additional payment later in the week.  She provided the agent with a hand written note, which contained her husband’s name, the address of his employment and the address of his mother’s home, where he was recently living.  Martinez showed the agent photographs of her husband on her smartphone, provided his work schedule, described his tattoos, and described the vehicle he drove.  Martinez suggested that the best time to kill her husband was either as he got off work or when he was leaving his gym.  Martinez was arrested in Nampa on October 22, 2014, at her residence in Nampa.

Using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.  Martinez will be sentenced on August 5, 2015, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

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

BOISE –  Rashine Kale, 38, and Jean Estinville, 26, both of Lawrenceville, Georgia, each pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft for their roles in a credit card fraud scheme that targeted local retailers in October of 2014, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  

According to the plea agreements, Kale and Estinville each admitted to traveling to the District of Idaho, along with their co-defendants, for the purpose of making fraudulent purchases of gift cards and prepaid debit cards from retail stores, using stolen credit card numbers encoded onto stock debit cards.  Both Kale and Estinville admitted to obtaining the stock debit cards encoded with unauthorized credit card numbers, and making purchases at retail stores on October 5, 2014.

In his plea agreement, Kale admitted to traveling to seven separate retail stores, and making 21 total purchases, using eight different credit card numbers that he was not authorized to use.  Upon his arrest, officers found 188 access devices in his rental vehicle, consisting of various gift cards and pre-paid debit cards, and three gift cards in his possession.  Sentencing is set for July 22, 2015, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

In his plea agreement, Estinville admitted to traveling to three separate retail stores, and making 14 total purchases, using six different credit card numbers that he was not authorized to use.  Upon his arrest, officers found 55 access devices in his rental vehicle, consisting of various gift cards and pre-paid debit cards, as well as a Citizen EcoDrive watch in his possession that was purchased with an unauthorized credit card number.  Sentencing is set for August 4, 2015, before Judge Winmill.

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, and a $100 special assessment.  Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of two years, a term of supervised release of not more than one year, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a special assessment of $100.  As part of their pleas, the defendants also agreed to forfeit $49,953.41 in cash proceeds of the charged offenses.

Kale and Estinville were indicted, along with Rakeen Anderson, 31, of Atlanta, Georgia, Kyandre Banks, 34, of Lilburn, Georgia, Clarence Collins, 34, of Douglasville, Georgia, Mikki Williams, 24, of Atlanta, Georgia, Charles Moore, 25, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Jonathan Penn, 20, of Suwanee, Georgia, Terrance Barimah, 26, of Floranceville, Georgia, and Brian Treadwell, 25, of Buford, Georgia, on charges relating to a wire fraud and identity theft scheme.  Collins, Banks, Estinville, Kale, Moore, Penn, Williams and Treadwell were each charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.  Anderson was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.  Barimah was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and illegal possession of device-making equipment.

Co-Defendant Rakeen Anderson is scheduled for a change of plea hearing before Chief U.S. Magistrate Candy W. Dale on May 26, 2015.  Co-defendants Treadwell and Williams are scheduled for sentencing on June 16, 2015.  Co-defendant Clarence Collins is scheduled for sentencing on June 17, 2015.  Co-defendant Charles Moore is scheduled for sentencing on July 7, 2015.  Co-defendants Jonathan Penn and Terrance Barimah are scheduled for sentencing on July 8, 2015.  The defendants will be sentenced before Judge Winmill.  Co-defendant Kyandre Banks remains a fugitive.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Boise Police Department.

BOISE – Kenny P. Breedlove, 35, of Porterville, California, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Breedlove was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 14, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, Breedlove admitted that on October 6, 2014, he possessed methamphetamine that he intended to distribute to another person.  On that date, Nampa Police officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle Breedlove was driving.  Breedlove told officers the vehicle belonged to him.  A police drug-detection dog sniffed the vehicle and alerted to the odor of illegal drugs.  Police officers searched the vehicle and located a loaded 9 millimeter pistol, 337 grams of methamphetamine, and digital scales.  As part of his plea agreement, Breedlove admitted that he possessed the pistol in connection with the drug offense.

The charge of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute is punishable by a minimum term of imprisonment of five years and up to forty years, a maximum fine of $5 million, and a minimum term of four years supervised release.  Breedlove is scheduled to be sentenced on August 3, 2015, by Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Boise.

Breedlove was charged as a result of an investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, which focused on the “Norteno” Northside gang that is active in Nampa and other parts of the Treasure Valley.  Fourteen individuals were indicted on drug and gun charges as a result of the investigation.  So far, one defendant has been sentenced.  Guadalupe Serrano was sentenced on April 21, 2015, to 75 months in prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and for possessing firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.  Breedlove was the eighth defendant to plead guilty.  The others that have pleaded guilty include Johnny Lee Martinez, 33, Guillermo Farias Jr., 29, Jose Manuel Menchaca, 35, Nicole Danelle Nieto, 31, Brandi Marie Larrea, 31, and Tara Noelle Rivera, 30, all from Nampa.  Three others are scheduled for trial including Michael David Bradshaw, 31, Richard Lobato, 51, both from Nampa, and Isaac Bright, 21, from Caldwell.  Three other defendants have outstanding warrants, including Jose Enrique Olvera Jr., 51, Ruben Rodriguez, 36, and Veronica Cantu, 26, all from Nampa.

These cases are the result of a joint investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force and the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force is comprised of federal, state and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Boise Police Department; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and Idaho Department of Probation and Parole.  The Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), includes the cooperative law enforcement efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and U.S. Marshals Service.  The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

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

COEUR D'ALENE - Randy James Hirst, 58, of Rathdrum, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to 36 months in prison for possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Hirst to pay $3,000 to a child in one of the images Hirst possessed, and to serve ten years of supervised release upon his release from prison.  Hirst pleaded guilty to the charge on January 21, 2015.

According to the plea agreement, Hirst’s computer was identified as making child pornography available in an internet based peer to peer network.  A U.S. Secret Service agent discovered Hirst’s online activity and in July 2013, a federal search warrant was served on Hirst’s Rathdrum residence.  Investigators seized Hirst’s computers and later found that they contained nine videos and three-hundred images of children engaged in sexually explicit acts.  A forensic analysis revealed that Hirst used search terms to find sexually explicit images of preteen girls.  During the sentencing hearing, Hirst admitted that he committed the crime and apologized to the Court and his family.

The case was investigated through the collaborative effort of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Secret Service, United States Border Patrol, and United States Customs and Border Protection.  These agencies participate in the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a statewide coalition of local, state and federal law enforcement and prosecution agencies, focused on apprehending and prosecuting individuals who use the Internet to criminally exploit children.  For more information about the Idaho ICAC Task Force and a list of all the participating agencies, visit www.icactaskforce.org.

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

COEUR D'ALENE - Desmond J. Seyler, 26, of Plummer, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Seyler to serve three years of supervised release, and to pay $20,008.27 in restitution.  Seyler pleaded guilty on August 12, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, Seyler admitted that he fractured his cousin’s jaw when he hit her in the face.  Seyler was intoxicated at the time he committed the crime.  he case was prosecuted in federal court because the offense happened on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation and both Seyler and his victim are members of federally recognized tribes.  During sentencing Judge Winmill recognized the defendant’s efforts in engaging in treatment and embracing sobriety.

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

COEUR D'ALENE - Raymond Antoine Scott, Jr., 38, of Lapwai, Idaho, pleaded guilty today to second degree murder, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Scott was indicted by a federal grand jury in Coeur d'Alene on March 18, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, Scott admitted that on July 9, 2013, he intentionally struck William Reich, who was known as Bear on the reservation, on the left side of the head with a sharp object.  That blow resulted in a fracture to Reich's skull that damaged his brain and caused his death.  After the defendant struck Reich, he went to several residences where he admitted to killing Reich.  The case was in federal court because the defendant and the victim are both enrolled members of the Nez Perce Indian Tribe, and the crime occurred on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation.

The charge of second degree murder is punishable by up to life in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000.00, and up to five years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set for July 28, 2015, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Coeur d'Alene.

“While no criminal prosecution can bring back the life of William Reich, we are hopeful that bringing his murderer to justice will provide the family and community an opportunity to heal,” said Olson.

The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Nez Perce Tribal Police and the Lewiston Police Department.

COEUR D'ALENE - Twilla Marie St. Pierre, 37, of Worley, Idaho, was sentenced today to five years of probation for theft from a tribal organization, the Benawah Market, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  U.S. District Judge William Fremming Nielsen, from the Eastern District of Washington, also ordered St. Pierre to pay restitution in the amount of $2,978.54 to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and $19,686.50 to Travelers Claims Hartford.  St. Pierre pleaded guilty on February 3, 2015.

According to the plea agreement, St. Pierre admitted that on August 21, 2014, she, along with two others entered the closed market and stole cash and checks totaling approximately $22,650.

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

BOISE — Brandt Stewart, 29, from Southfield, Michigan, was sentenced today to 32 months in prison for aggravated identity theft and credit card fraud, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Stewart to serve three years of supervised release following his release from prison.

Stewart, co-defendant Myron Pardon, and others were part of a “traveling group” from Detroit, Michigan, that traveled to southern Idaho in December 2013, and February 2014, to make purchases at large “box stores” using counterfeit credit cards.  Stewart, knowingly and with intent to defraud, used counterfeit credit cards to purchase “general use” charge cards at ten stores in Twin Falls, Boise and Meridian, causing losses in the amount of $8,906 in joint and several liability with co-defendant Myron Pardon.  Some of the credit cards fraudulently used by Stewart belonged to actual account holders, thus constituting aggravated identity theft.

Stewart’s co-defendant Myron Pardon entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced on similar charges to 18 months incarceration on February 3, 2015, before Judge Winmill at the federal courthouse in Boise, Idaho.  The case of Stewart’s co-defendant, Matthew Lane, has been transferred to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, in Detroit, where Lane has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on May 19, 2015.

"Vigorous prosecution of those who travel here to carry out schemes to defraud Idaho citizens and businesses is a priority of this United States Attorney’s Office,” said Olson.  “My office will work effectively and aggressively with local police departments and federal law enforcement agencies to put a quick end to these schemes.”

The case is the result of a joint investigation of the Boise Police Department and the United States Secret Service.

COEUR D'ALENE - Gaylen K. Broncheau, 62, of Lapwai, Idaho, pleaded guilty today to abusive sexual contact with a child under twelve, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Broncheau was indicted by a federal grand jury in Coeur d'Alene on November 18, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, between 2008 and 2011, on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation, Broncheau had sexual contact with a child, touching the child’s genitals with his fingers, over the child’s underwear.  The plea agreement states the child was under twelve when this occurred.   

The charge is punishable by up to life in prison, up to lifetime supervised release following any prison sentence, and a maximum fine of $250,000.

Sentencing is set for August 18, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d'Alene.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Nez Perce Tribal Police, Idaho State Police, and the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.

COEUR D'ALENE - Pennie Sue Moffett, 41, of Kamiah, Idaho, pleaded guilty today to assaulting, resisting, and impeding an officer of the United States, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Moffett was indicted by a federal grand jury in Coeur d'Alene on May 20, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, on March 27, 2014, Moffett obstructed, impeded, and assaulted an FBI Agent who was engaged in his official duties by resisting arrest and kicking the agent.  The plea agreement states the FBI agent did not suffer bodily injury as a result of Moffett’s conduct.

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

Sentencing is set for July 21, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d'Alene.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Nez Perce Tribal Police.

BOISE – Rocio Contreras-Loya, 40, of Sante Fe Springs, California, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Contreras-Loya to serve three years of supervised release, to pay $15,443.80 in restitution, and to forfeit $26,777.13 in cash proceeds of the charged offenses.  Contreras-Loya pleaded guilty on January 30, 2015.

According to the plea agreement, Contreras-Loya engaged in a retail scheme between July 2013 and July 2014, whereby she defrauded retail stores by applying for, and obtaining, credit accounts in the identities of unknowing third party victims.  Contreras-Loya then used the credit accounts to fraudulently purchase merchandise and gift cards.  Contreras-Loya admitted she received, from her co-defendant Arleen Cifuentes, victim identification information and false California driver's licenses in the victims' names, containing Contreras-Loya's photo.  Contreras-Loya admitted that she and her co-defendants executed the scheme on at least fifteen occasions in the District of Idaho.  Cifuentes and Contreras-Loya were arrested shortly after executing the scheme at the Boise Town Square Mall.

Co-defendant Arleen Cifuentes pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft on January 27, 2015.  Her sentencing is scheduled for May 27th before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill. Co-defendant Ivan Fonseca remains a fugitive.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Boise Police Department.

BOISE – Charles Moore, 25, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Jonathan Penn, 20, of Suwanee, Georgia, and Terrance Barimah, 26, of Floranceville, Georgia, each pleaded guilty yesterday in United States District Court for their roles in a credit card fraud scheme that targeted local retailers in October of 2014, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  The defendants were indicted on November 13, 2014.

Moore pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.  According to the plea agreement, Moore traveled to the District of Idaho, along with his co-defendants, for the purpose of making fraudulent purchases of gift cards and prepaid debit cards from retail stores, using stolen credit card numbers encoded onto stock debit cards.  Moore admitted to obtaining the stock debit cards encoded with unauthorized credit card numbers, and making purchases at retail stores on October 5, 2014.  In all, Moore admitted to traveling to five separate retail stores, and making 29 total purchases, using nine different credit card numbers that he was not authorized to use.  Upon his arrest, Moore was found in possession of $2,740 in cash and 43 gift cards and pre-paid debit cards.  Sentencing is set for July 7, 2015, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

Penn pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  According to the plea agreement, Penn traveled to the District of Idaho, along with his co-defendants, for the purpose of making fraudulent purchases of gift cards and prepaid debit cards from retail stores, using stolen credit card numbers encoded onto stock debit cards.  Penn admitted to obtaining the stock debit cards encoded with unauthorized credit card numbers, and making purchases at retail stores on October 5, 2014.  In all, Penn admitted to traveling to five separate retail stores, and making 24 total purchases, using six different credit cards numbers that he was not authorized to use.  Upon his arrest, Penn was found in possession of three debit cards encoded with unauthorized credit card numbers, and 30 gift cards.  Sentencing is set for July 8, 2015, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

Barimah pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession of device-making equipment.  According to the plea agreement, Barimah traveled to the District of Idaho, along with his co-defendants, for the purpose of making fraudulent purchases of gift cards and prepaid debit cards from retail stores, using stolen credit card numbers encoded onto stock debit cards.  Barimah admitted obtaining blank stock pre-paid debit cards from his co-defendants, and encoding them with credit card numbers belonging to real individuals who had not authorized the defendant or his co-defendants to make purchases on the accounts.  Barimah provided the debit cards encoded with unauthorized credit card numbers to his co-defendants, and expected to receive cash payment and/or a portion of the proceeds of the fraud.  Upon his arrest, Barimah was found in possession of 41 gift cards representing the proceeds of the fraud, a laptop computer, and a "mini magnetic strip card reader/writer" that was used to encode the cards.  Sentencing is set for July 8, 2015, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, and a $100 special assessment.  Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of two years, a term of supervised release of not more than one year, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a special assessment of $100.  Illegal possession of device-making equipment is punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, and a $100 special assessment.  As part of their pleas, the defendants also agreed to forfeit $49,953.41 in cash proceeds of the charged offenses.

Moore, Penn, and Barimah were indicted, along with Rakeen Anderson, 31, of Atlanta, Georgia, Kyandre Banks, 34, of Lilburn, Georgia, Jean Estinville, 26, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Rashine Kale, 38, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Clarence Collins, 34, of Douglasville, Georgia,

Mikki Williams, 24, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Brian Treadwell, 25, of Buford, Georgia, on charges relating to a wire fraud and identity theft scheme.  Collins, Banks, Estinville, Kale, Moore, Penn, Williams and Treadwell were each charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.  Anderson was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.  Barimah was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and illegal possession of device-making equipment.

Co-defendant Brian Treadwell is scheduled for sentencing before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill on June 16, 2015.  Co-defendant Clarence Collins is scheduled for sentencing before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill on June 17, 2015.  Co-defendant Mikki Williams is scheduled for sentencing before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill on June 16, 2015.  Co-defendant Rashine Kale is scheduled for a change of plea hearing before Chief U.S. Magistrate Candy W. Dale on May 12, 2015.  Co-Defendant Rakeen Anderson is scheduled for a change of plea hearing before Chief U.S. Magistrate Candy W. Dale on May 26, 2015.  Co-Defendant Jean Estinville is set for a change of plea hearing on a date to be scheduled.  Co-defendant Kyandre Banks remains a fugitive.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Boise Police Department.

COEUR D'ALENE - Mark Allen Daves, 51, of Tensed, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States Magistrate Court for assault, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Daves was placed on two years of supervised probation.  During his probation term, Daves will report to jail for four consecutive weekends, he is not allowed to possess any firearms, and he is prohibited from drinking alcohol or going to bars, among other restrictions. United States Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale also ordered Daves to pay a $1,250 fine.  He pleaded guilty to the charge on January 21, 2015.

According to court documents, Daves admitted to hearing shots fired while he was in his home in Tensed, Idaho.  He took his shotgun to investigate.  Daves fired his shotgun and then confronted a hunter.  Daves indicated an argument ensued and he was fearful the shotgun would be used against him.  Likewise, the victim reported that he was afraid Daves was going to use the shotgun to shoot him.  Daves shot off all rounds in the shotgun and hit the hunter in the chest with his gun.  The victim and defendant differed in their versions of how those shots were fired.  Daves is a former San Diego jail deputy.  During the sentencing U.S. Chief Magistrate Candy W. Dale told Daves she considered it a serious offense and jail time needed to be imposed in order to have specific and general deterrence.  All parties noted how tragic the situation could have turned out.  “If anything, we hope the lesson learned is to call law enforcement if you have a concern,” said Olson.  “Do not simply take matters into your own hands.”

The case was investigated by CDA Tribal Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

BOISE – Rodolfo Antonio Ortega, 29, of Boise, Idaho, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine for distribution, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

According to court proceedings, Ortega was arrested in a Boise hotel parking lot on October 21, 2014.  When the officers searched his car they found a loaded .357 Colt revolver, 9.5 ounces of methamphetamine, scales, baggies, and about $4,774 in cash.  Ortega admitted that he is a convicted felon and knowingly possessed the firearm.  Ortega has two prior felony convictions.  He also admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.  According to his plea agreement, Ortega acknowledges that he is a Career Offender, which will enhance the sentencing guideline range applicable to his case.

The penalty for possession of meth with intent to distribute it is not less than 5 years, and not more than 40 years.  Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is punishable by imprisonment for not more than 10 years.  Punishment as a Career Offender increases the punishment range.  Ortega’s sentencing is set for July 7, 2015 before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

The Indictment was handed down on November 13, 2014.  The case was investigated by the Boise City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

BOISE – Rodolfo Antonio Ortega, 29, of Boise, Idaho, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine for distribution, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

According to court proceedings, Ortega was arrested in a Boise hotel parking lot on October 21, 2014.  When the officers searched his car they found a loaded .357 Colt revolver, 9.5 ounces of methamphetamine, scales, baggies, and about $4,774 in cash.  Ortega admitted that he is a convicted felon and knowingly possessed the firearm.  Ortega has two prior felony convictions.  He also admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.  According to his plea agreement, Ortega acknowledges that he is a Career Offender, which will enhance the sentencing guideline range applicable to his case.

The penalty for possession of meth with intent to distribute it is not less than 5 years, and not more than 40 years.  Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is punishable by imprisonment for not more than 10 years.  Punishment as a Career Offender increases the punishment range.  Ortega’s sentencing is set for July 7, 2015 before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

The Indictment was handed down on November 13, 2014.  The case was investigated by the Boise City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

BOISE – Guadalupe Serrano, 36, of Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced today to 15 months for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and was sentenced to an additional 60 months consecutive for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Serrano to serve three years of supervised release following his 75 month prison term.  Serrano pleaded guilty to the charges on February 11, 2015.

According to information presented in court, Nampa police officers stopped a black BMW Serrano was driving on June 19, 2014.  A police drug-detection dog sniffed the BMW and alerted to the odor of illegal drugs.  During a later search of the BMW, officers located two baggies containing methamphetamine, a digital scale, $10,200, two loaded firearms, and ammunition.  The firearms were identified as a Bersa, .380 ACP pistol, and a Glock, 9 millimeter pistol.  Serrano admitted that the firearms were stolen.

Serrano’s case is part of a larger long-term investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force.  The investigation focused on the “Norteno” Northside gang, which is active in Nampa and other parts of the Treasure Valley.  Fourteen individuals were indicted on drug and gun charges as a result of the investigation.  Serrano was the first to be sentenced.  Four others have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing including Jose Manuel Menchaca, 35, Nicole Danelle Nieto, 31, Brandi Marie Larrea, 31, and Tara Noelle Rivera, 30, all from Nampa.  Guillermo Farias Jr., 29, also from Nampa has signed a plea agreement and is awaiting a court hearing to enter his guilty plea.  Five others are scheduled for trial including Johhny Lee Martinez, 33, Michael David Bradshaw, 31, Richard Lobato, 51, all from Nampa, Isaac Bright, 21, from Caldwell, and Kenny P. Breedlove, 35, from California.  Three other defendants have outstanding warrants, including Jose Enrique Olvera Jr., 51, Ruben Rodriguez, 36, and Veronica Cantu, 26, all from Nampa.

This case and the other related cases are the result of a joint investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force and the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force is comprised of federal, state and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Boise Police Department; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and Idaho Department of Probation and Parole.

The Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), includes the cooperative law enforcement efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and U.S. Marshals Service.  The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

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

BOISE – David Echevarria, 51, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced today to 110 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered the defendant to pay a $2,500 fine.  Echevarria pleaded guilty on January 30, 2015.

The distribution ring involved two distribution cells in the Treasure Valley: one led by Jason Holmberg now serving a prison term of 180 months, the other by Andrew Polney now in federal prison on a 130-month sentence.  Co-defendant, Kenneth Jones, in Sacramento, California, supplied multi-pound shipments of methamphetamine, which was transported to the Treasure Valley for distribution.  Jones is serving a prison term of 130 months.  The group operated from about June 2012, through the time of the various arrests on April 18, 2013, and May 23, 2013. On April 9, 2013, Echevarria was stopped with approximately 55 grams of methamphetamine which he had obtained from Polney.

“Investigation and prosecution of large distribution organizations such as this are very demanding, but the effort is essential for keeping our communities safe and reducing this destructive substance in our area,” said Olson.  “For many of these defendants, facing prosecution, accepting responsibility, admitting guilt, and being sentenced has been very beneficial in helping them to return to a productive life free of destructive drugs.”

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

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

BOISE - Del E. Weech, 59, of Kuna, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States District Court to six months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for making false statements involving social security benefits, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Weech to pay $13,004 in restitution.  Weech pleaded guilty to the charge on February 9, 2015.

According to the plea agreement, Weech admitted that he signed a statement, under penalty of perjury, that his stepdaughter had not received her $14,929 benefits check from the Social Security Administration (SSA), causing the SSA to issue a partial payment in the amount of $9,838.  In fact, Weech had already cashed the check.  On two other occasions, Weech lied to the SSA, stating that he had not received his own monthly social security benefits, causing repayments to be generated.  Weech then cashed his original checks and collected the repayments.  In total, Weech stole $13,004 from the SSA.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General.  The case was prosecuted by a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney as part of a partnership venture between the Social Security Administration Office of General Counsel and the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute social security fraud.

BOISE - Jennifer R. Ransom, 40, of Meridian, Idaho, pleaded guilty today to one count of securities fraud, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Her guilty plea was to Count Five of the pending indictment.  The grand jury returned the indictment against Ms. Ransom on November 14, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, Ransom was the Senior Vice President of Administration of Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc. (“AEHI”).  AEHI was a development stage company headquartered in Eagle, Idaho that planned to construct and operate a nuclear power plant in Payette County, Idaho.

According to the plea agreement, Ransom joined AEHI in late 2007.  Prior to joining AEHI, Ransom took and passed the Series 63 examination, one of the tests required to become a licensed Securities Agent, and knew it was wrongful and unlawful to engage in conduct that was designed to defraud or deceive investors by artificially controlling or fraudulently affecting the price of securities.  Notwithstanding, she agreed with her co-defendant, Donald L. Gillispie, the former President and CEO of AEHI, and other “nominees” to a scheme to defraud or deceive AEHI investors.

According to the plea agreement, the scheme involved Gillispie and Ransom recruiting nominees to make purchases of AEHI stock on the market for the express purpose of artificially inflating the market price of AEHI stock.  Ransom personally helped recruit one of the nominees.  Without investors’ knowledge, Gillispie and Ransom provided AEHI funds, obtained almost exclusively from investors, to two of the nominees to fund their market purchases of AEHI stock.

According to the plea agreement, investors who purchased AEHI stock directly from AEHI, through Private Placement Memoranda (PPM), were offered a price discounted from the market price that nominees were attempting to inflate.  However, PPM investors could only purchase restricted AEHI stock, which they could not sell for six months to one year.  On September 9, 2009 through September 11, 2009, Ransom assisted a nominee in making purchases of AEHI stock on the market.  The purpose of these purchases was to artificially increase the market price of AEHI stock, which was trading above the PPM price.  During the next two months, private investors bought approximately $516,885 worth of AEHI restricted stock at the lower PPM price.

According to the plea agreement, Ransom received shares of AEHI stock as executive compensation.  From June of 2010, through September of 2010, a period during which attempts were being made to artificially inflate the market price of AEHI stock, Ransom sold approximately 1,000,000 of her shares and received approximately $675,326 in return, of which approximately $580,780 was the proceeds of securities fraud.

As part of the plea agreement, Ransom agreed to forfeit $580,780, the proceeds of the securities fraud offense she pleaded guilty to, and to pay restitution.

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

Sentencing is set for July 27, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.

"This defendant personally gained by deceiving investors,” said Olson.  “Her guilty plea both acknowledges the wrongfulness of her conduct and sends the clear message to others that the U.S. Department of Justice and its investigating partners will take strong actions to identify and prosecute those who manipulate securities markets for personal gain.”

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

BOISE — Matthew Taber Annable, 40, formerly of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, pleaded guilty today to bank larceny by use of a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit bank larceny, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.   Sentencing is set for June 10, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge.

According to court documents, on January 10, 2014, Annable and his co-defendant Nathan Paul Davenport, aiding and abetting each other, broke into and stole cash from an automated teller machine (ATM) located at the Idaho First Bank in McCall, Idaho.  The indictment alleges that Davenport possessed, carried, used, and discharged a firearm, specifically a Ruger semiautomatic rifle, in connection with the offense.  Davenport admitted that he used the rifle to shoot at pursuing McCall police officers.  Annable was aware that Davenport shot at pursuing officers because Davenport and Annable communicated over an open cell phone connection during the larceny.  During Davenport’s heist from the ATM, Annable drove about nearby waiting to pick up Davenport in an escape vehicle.  As part of the conspiracy, the indictment charged both men with other ATM larcenies committed against Idaho Banking Company in Boise and Meridian on January 5, 2014, and a string of ATM larcenies in December, 2013 and January, 2014, which occurred in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, as well as in Idaho.

Davenport pleaded guilty on March 30, 2015, to bank larceny by use of a dangerous weapon, use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony crime, and conspiracy to commit bank larceny.  He will be sentenced on June 22, 2015.

Annable and Davenport were arrested without incident on January 12, 2014, in Orem, Utah, in connection with a separate ATM robbery in Wyoming.  The two men were in custody on the Wyoming charges prior to being transported to Boise on the Idaho charges.  In the District of Wyoming, both men pleaded guilty to single counts of ATM theft and aiding and abetting and each received a fourteen month prison sentence.

The charge of bank larceny by use of a dangerous weapon as charged in the Idaho indictment is punishable by up to 25 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release.  The charge of conspiracy to commit bank larceny is punishable by up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years supervised release.

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

BOISE – Anton Philip Raider, 23, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced today to five years in prisons followed by five years of supervised release for possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  United States District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Raider to forfeit four firearms, and ordered that his federal sentence run concurrently to his state sentencing for aiding and abetting second degree murder.

According to court proceedings, a search warrant was served at the defendant’s residence located on West Red Maple Drive, Boise, Idaho.  The warrant was issued in state court as part of an investigation into a double homicide that occurred the night before.  The defendant was found to be in possession of approximately three pounds of marijuana, which was located in a safe in the defendant’s bedroom closet.  Raider admitted to knowingly and intentionally possessing the marijuana with the intent to distribute it to others.  Also found in the defendant’s closet were four firearms and miscellaneous rounds of ammunition.  Raider admitted that he knowingly possessed the firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime.

The case was investigated by the Boise Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

BOISE – Mark Ciccarello, 37, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to launder money, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Ciccarello to pay $4.5 million in asset forfeiture, and to pay a $3,000 fine.  Ciccarello will self-surrender, as directed by the United States Bureau of Prisons.

Ciccarello is the last of the defendants charged with manufacturing controlled substance analogues and laundering the money from selling these substances nationwide. The Indictment alleged that Ciccarello and three co-conspirators, Troy Palmer, William Mabry, and Robert Eoff, conspired to purchase and import from China chemicals known as AM2201, UR-144, and XLR11, which they use to treat innocuous plant matter to make “spice”Ca synthetic cannabinoid similar to substances—including JWH018—listed in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.  The most popular spice product they made was called “Zombie Matter,” which also became the name of the marketing enterprise set up by Ciccarello.  The Indictment alleged that they conspired to launder money illegally obtained through spice manufacturing and distribution.

According to court documents, Ciccarello admitted that he was a leader in a conspiracy to conduct financial transactions in connection with a “spice” manufacturing and distribution business, beginning in March 2011.  Ciccarello also admitted to knowingly participating in and directing the financial activity of the business by engaging in bank and other financial transactions, through both domestic and foreign financial institutions.  The transactions consisted of the proceeds of illegal spice sales and other specified unlawful activity and, in many cases, the transactions conducted through financial institutions separately consisted of criminally derived property of a value greater than $10,000; most of the transactions occurred in Idaho, Washington and California.

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

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

POCATELLO - Sergio Garcia, 25, of Rexburg, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States District Court to 60 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Garcia to forfeit $7,500 in proceeds from his crime.  Garcia pleaded guilty to the charge on January 28, 2015.

According to the plea agreement, with the assistance of at least two other individuals, Garcia sold methamphetamine six times to someone working with the police.  The sales all took place in eastern Idaho and were usually for one ounce of methamphetamine.

Garcia’s codefendant, Uriel Garcia, was charged with distributing methamphetamine on September 4, 2013.  A warrant for his arrest remains active.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Madison, Fremont, and Bonneville County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Idaho Falls Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Idaho State Police.

BOISE – Clarence Collins, 34, of Douglasville, Georgia, and Mikki Williams, 24, of Atlanta, Georgia, each pleaded guilty today in United States District Court for their roles in a credit card fraud scheme that targeted local retailers in October of 2014, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  They were indicted by a federal grand jury on November 13, 2014.

Collins pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.  According to the plea agreement, Collins traveled to Idaho, along with his co-defendants, for the purpose of making fraudulent purchases of gift cards and prepaid debit cards from retail stores, using stolen credit card numbers encoded onto stock debit cards.  Collins admitted to obtaining the stock debit cards encoded with unauthorized credit card numbers, and making purchases at retail stores on October 5, 2014.  In all, Collins admitted to traveling to five separate retail stores, and making eight total purchases, using five different credit card numbers that he was not authorized to use.  Upon his arrest, Collins was found in possession of seven debit cards encoded with unauthorized credit card numbers.  Sentencing is set for June 17, 2015, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, and a $100 special assessment.  Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of two years, a term of supervised release of not more than one year, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a special assessment of $100.  As part of his plea, Collins also agreed to forfeit $49,953.41 in cash proceeds of the charged offenses.

Williams pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony.  According to the plea agreement, Williams admitted knowing that her co-defendants were engaged in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud by using stolen credit card numbers encoded onto Vanilla debit cards.  Williams admitted receiving Visa debit cards that were the proceeds of the fraud scheme.  Upon her arrest, she was found in possession of eight pre-paid debit cards that were the proceeds of fraud.  Williams admitted that, despite her knowledge of the fraud scheme, she did not report the offense to the authorities, but rather provided false information about her knowledge of the offense and the source of the fraud proceeds, and concealed the proceeds of the fraud.

Misprision of a felony is punishable by up to three years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Sentencing is scheduled for June 16, 2015, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

Collins and Williams were indicted, along with Rakeen Anderson, 31, of Atlanta, Georgia; Kyandre Banks, 34, of Lilburn, Georgia; Terrance Barimah, 26, of Floranceville, Georgia; Jean Estinville, 26, of Lawrenceville, Georgia; Rashine Kale, 38, of Lawrenceville, Georgia; Charles Moore, 25, of Stone Mountain, Georgia; Jonathan Penn, 20, of Suwanee, Georgia; and Brian Treadwell, 25, of Buford, Georgia, on charges relating to a wire fraud and identity theft scheme.  Banks, Estinville, Kale, Moore, Penn, and Treadwell were each charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.  Anderson was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.  Barimah was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and illegal possession of device-making equipment.

Co-defendant Brian Treadwell is scheduled for sentencing before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill on June 16, 2015.  Co-defendant Jonathan Penn is scheduled for a change of plea hearing before Chief U.S. Magistrate Candy W. Dale on April 23, 2015.  Co-Defendant Rakeen Anderson is pending a change of plea hearing to be scheduled.  Co-Defendants Barimah, Estinville, Kale, and Moore are currently scheduled for a jury trial on April 27, 2015.  Co-defendant Kyandre Banks remains a fugitive.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Boise Police Department.

COEUR D'ALENE - David Ray Crowe, Sr., 46, of Worley, Idaho, was sentenced today to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for robbery of a smoke shop on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  During the term of supervised release, Crowe will have to submit to searches of his person, home and automobile, he will have to refrain from bars and alcohol consumption, and submit to drug testing up to five times per month.  U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Crowe to pay restitution in the amount of $20,348.44 to the store and victim.  Crowe pleaded guilty to the charge on November 20, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, Crowe admitted that on January 3, 2014, he went into the Stubby Lake Smoke Shop in the early morning hours and threatened an employee with a knife.  He demanded money, her car keys and told the employee not to scream or he would kill her.  Crowe took cash, cartons of cigarettes, a laptop computer and the employee’s 2012 Subaru Forester.  The United States prosecuted the case because the events occurred within the boundaries of the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation and Crowe is an enrolled tribal member.

“I commend the collaborative efforts of the tribal and federal law enforcement officers,” said Olson.  “My office will continue to vigorously prosecute violent crimes in Indian Country and work with the tribal authorities to make the reservations safer places to live and work.”

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

COEUR D'ALENE - Brent Anthony Stevens, 31, of Sandpoint, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in federal court to possession of sexually explicit images of minors, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Stevens was indicted by a federal grand jury in Coeur d'Alene on August 19, 2014. 

According to the plea agreement, between July 22, 2013, and September 12, 2013, investigators with the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) observed that a computer in Sandpoint, Idaho, was making sexually explicit images of minors available on the internet.  ICAC investigators were able to determine that the images were being shared from a computer at Stevens’ residence and obtained a search warrant.

Stevens was present during the search warrant’s execution.  He admitted to downloading child pornography and told investigators they would find it on his computer.  A computer forensic examiner later found child pornography on a computer and a thumb-drive seized from Stevens.  The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children determined that Stevens’ child pornography collection included images of minors from multiple states, including Washington, Colorado, California, and Utah, as well as several foreign countries.

The charge of possession of sexually explicit images of minors is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000.00, and up to lifetime supervised release.

Sentencing is set for July 21, 2015, before United States District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d'Alene.

The case was investigated through the collaborative effort of the Kootenai County Prosecutor’s Office, Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, Coeur d’Alene Police Department, Idaho Attorney General’s Office, United States Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  These agencies participate in the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a statewide coalition of local, state and federal law enforcement and prosecution agencies, focused on apprehending and prosecuting individuals who use the Internet to criminally exploit children.  For more information about the Idaho ICAC Task Force and a list of all the participating agencies, visit www.icactaskforce.org.

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

BOISE – Tara Noelle Rivera, 30, of Nampa, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boise to distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Rivera was indicted on November 13, 2014.

According to court documents, Rivera admitted to selling methamphetamine to a police informant on three separate occasions in March 2014.  Rivera also admitted to selling a 9 millimeter pistol to the informant.  Rivera’s case is part of a larger long-term investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force.  The investigation focused on the “Norteno” Northside gang, which is active in Nampa and other parts of the Treasure Valley.  Fourteen individuals were indicted on drug and gun charges as a result of the investigation.

Distribution of methamphetamine is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set for June 17, 2015, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

This case and the other related cases are the result of a joint investigation by theTreasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force and the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force is comprised of federal, state and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Boise Police Department; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and Idaho Department of Probation and Parole.  The Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), includes the cooperative law enforcement efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and U.S. Marshals Service.  The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

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

COEUR D'ALENE - Nicole Shannon Rose Two Moon, 30, of Lapwai, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Coeur d’Alene to concealing a person from arrest, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Two Moon was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 18, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, Two Moon admitted that in April and May of 2014, she allowed Delbert George to stay at her house knowing a federal warrant had been issued for his arrest in March of 2014.  Two Moon let him stay there to help George avoid detection on the warrant.

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

Sentencing is set for July 21, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d'Alene.

“I commend the collaborative efforts of law enforcement,” said Olson.  “Harboring a fugitive is a serious crime which creates a potentially dangerous situation for all of those involved.”

The case was investigated by the Nez Perce Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

BOISE — Nathan Paul Davenport, 35, formerly of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, pleaded guilty yesterday to bank larceny by use of a dangerous weapon and use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony offense, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.   Davenport was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 9, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, on January 10, 2014, Davenport and his co-defendant, Matthew Taber Annable, aiding and abetting each other, broke into and stole cash from an automated teller machine (ATM) located at the Idaho First Bank in McCall, Idaho.  Davenport possessed, carried, used, and discharged a firearm, specifically a Ruger semiautomatic rifle, in connection with the offense.  Davenport admitted that he used the rifle to shoot at pursuing McCall police officers.  As relevant conduct, the indictment charged both men with other ATM larcenies committed against Idaho Banking Company in Boise and Meridian on January 5, 2014, and a conspiracy to commit a string of ATM larcenies in December, 2013 and January, 2014, which occurred in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, as well as in Idaho.

Davenport did not challenge forfeiture allegations filed for the purpose of forfeiting firearms connected with the crimes, and proceeds of the crimes.

Davenport and Annable were arrested by FBI agents without incident on January 12, 2014, in Orem, Utah, in connection with a separate ATM robbery in Wyoming.  The two men were in custody on the Wyoming charges prior to being transported to Boise on the Idaho charges.  In the District of Wyoming, both men pleaded guilty to single counts of ATM theft and aiding and abetting and each received a fourteen month prison sentence.

Davenport’s sentencing is set for June 22, 2015, in front of U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge.  Annable’s plea hearing is scheduled for April 20, 2015, also before Judge Lodge.

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

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

POCATELLO – Miguel Gutierrez-Munoz, 40, of San Jose, California, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Gutierrez-Munoz was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 23, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, between February 18, 2014 and March 20, 2014, there was an agreement between the defendant and others to distribute methamphetamine. On March 20, 2014, the defendant assisted a co-defendant in storing in excess of fifty grams of methamphetamine at a storage shed in Idaho Falls, Idaho. This methamphetamine was intended to be distributed to other individuals.

Gutierrez-Munoz’ charge is punishable by ten years to life in prison, a maximum fine of ten million dollars, and at least five years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set for June 24, 2015, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The case was the result of a joint investigation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, in conjunction with, U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Bonneville County Sherriff’s Office, Idaho Falls Police Department, Idaho State Police, and the Bonneville County Prosecutor’s Office.

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

BOISE – Brandi Larrea, 31, of Nampa, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Larrea was indicted on October 15, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, Larrea admitting selling methamphetamine at her residence in Nampa, Idaho, on five separate occasions in January and March of 2013, and from March to May of 2014, totaling 33.3 grams of actual methamphetamine.  In June of 2013, law enforcement agents with the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation searched the defendant's residence pursuant to a search warrant and discovered 24 grams of actual methamphetamine and digital scales.

Distribution of methamphetamine is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release.  As part of her plea, Larrea also agreed to forfeit at least $1,835.00 in cash proceeds of the charged offenses.

Sentencing is set for June 17, 2015 before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

This case and the other related cases are the result of a joint investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force and the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force  (OCDETF).  The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force iscomprised of federal, state and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Boise Police Department; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and Idaho Department of Probation and Parole. The Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), includes the cooperative law enforcement efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and U.S. Marshals Service.  The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

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

POCATELLO - Wendy K. Banks, 55, of, Idaho Falls, Idaho, pleaded guilty today to theft of government funds, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  She was indicted by a grand jury on November 20, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, Banks admitted that between June 2009 and January 2014, she stole $29,600.20 of her deceased mother’s monthly social security benefits.  After her mother’s death, Banks maintained the joint bank account she had shared with her mother.  Banks forged her mother’s signature or wrote “for deposit” on the social security checks and deposited them in the joint account, eventually changing the checks to direct deposit in the joint account.

The charge of theft of government funds is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set for June 23, 2015 in Pocatello before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney as part of a partnership venture between the Social Security Administration Office of General Counsel and the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute social security fraud.

BOISE - William Bryon Chest, 41, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for transfer and attempted transfer of obscene images to minors, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Chest pleaded guilty on January 15, 2015.

According to the plea agreement, in April and May 2014, Chest sent sexually explicit images accompanied by graphic sexual messages to a 13-year-old girl from Oregon and convinced her to send nude photos of herself to him using the social media website “Kik.”  “Kik” is an instant messaging service based in Canada that is available as an application for smart phones.  The FBI in Portland was notified and an agent took over the girl’s identity and continued to communicate with Chest.  According to the plea agreement, Chest sent obscene images to the undercover agent, and twice discussed plans to travel to Oregon to meet the teen girl for sex, although he never actually did so.  Chest was arrested at his home in Boise on September 25, 2014, and has remained in custody since.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Portland and Boise, assisted by officers from the Boise Police Department and the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

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

BOISE - Juan Loredo, 22, and Shawn Smith,19, both from Salinas, California, pleaded guilty today to bank robbery by use of dangerous weapons and brandishing of firearms during the commission of a felony offense, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

According to the plea agreement, on November 20, 2014, the defendants robbed the First Federal Bank in Twin Falls, Idaho.  As the men entered the bank, Loredo brandished a sawed-off shotgun, and Smith brandished a semi-automatic pistol at the tellers and manager.  They stole more than $7,000, all of which was recovered by police when the men were arrested after a high-speed vehicle chase, and foot pursuit.

Sentencing is set for June 9, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge.   The men will continue to be held in custody awaiting their sentences.

The charge of bank robbery by use of a dangerous weapon is punishable by up to 25 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000.  In addition to the bank robbery, Juan Loredo faces an additional period of not less than 10 years of incarceration consecutive to any other punishment, and a maximum fine of $250,000 for brandishing the short-barreled shotgun during the crime of violence.  Shawn Smith faces an additional period of not less than seven years consecutive to any other punishment for brandishing the pistol during the crime of violence.

“Those who use firearms to commit violent crimes will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted,” said Olson.

The men were apprehended by, and the case was investigated by, the Twin Falls Police Department.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms assisted in the investigation and prosecution of these offenses.

POCATELLO – Dude Galloway, 34, of Blackfoot, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to assaulting a federal officer, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  He was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 28, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, on March 18, 2014, Galloway was arrested by the Fort Hall Police Department on an active arrest warrant and was transported by Fort Hall police officers to the Fort Hall Correctional Center.  While at the jail, corrections officers attempted to get the defendant to change into jail-issued clothing.  While doing so, the defendant struck a Fort Hall Corrections officer in the face with his hands.  The federal assault on an officer law deems Fort Hall corrections and police officers to be federal officers.

Assault on a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in prison, supervised release of up to three years, and a fine of up to $250.000.

Galloway is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The case was investigated by the Fort Hall Police Department.

BOISE – Rapphel Johnson, 28, of Reno, Nevada, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  U.S. District Chief Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Johnson to pay a $5,000 fine, and serve one year of supervised release following the prison term. 

Johnson was indicted in September 2014, for access device fraud (credit card fraud) and aggravated identity theft.  According to the plea agreement, Johnson admitted that on September 1, 2014, he and a co-defendant knowingly used counterfeit credit cards containing the account numbers of real people to make a number of fraudulent purchases in Boise at stores including Rite Aid, Subway, T-Mobile, Finish Line, and Macy’s.  In particular, Johnson admitted using a counterfeit credit card, with another person’s account number, to purchase a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 at the Boise Towne Square Mall.  Additionally, Johnson admitted that when he was contacted by police at a motel room rented with a counterfeit credit card, he threw several counterfeit credit cards out the motel room window.

Johnson’s co-defendant, Elizabeth Carter, is scheduled for sentencing on May 12, 2015.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Boise Police Department.

BOISE – Brian Treadwell, 25, of Buford, Georgia, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Sentencing is set for June 16, 2015, before U.S. District Chief Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

Treadwell was indicted, along with Rakeen Anderson, 31, of Atlanta, Georgia; Kyandre Banks, 34, of Lilburn, Georgia; Terrance Barimah, 26, of Floranceville, Georgia; Clarence Collins, 34, of Douglasville, Georgia; Jean Estinville, 26, of Lawrenceville, Georgia; Rashine Kale, 38, of Lawrenceville, Georgia; Charles Moore, 25, of Stone Mountain, Georgia; Jonathan Penn, 20, of Suwanee, Georgia; and Mikki Williams, 24, of Atlanta, Georgia on charges relating to a wire fraud and identity theft scheme.  Banks, Collins, Estinville, Kale, Moore, Penn, Treadwell, and Williams were each charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.  Anderson was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.  Barimah was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and illegal possession of device-making equipment.

According to the plea agreement, Treadwell traveled to the District of Idaho, along with his co-defendants, for the purpose of making fraudulent purchases of gift cards and prepaid debit cards from retail stores, using stolen credit card numbers encoded onto stock debit cards.  Treadwell admitted to obtaining the stock debit cards encoded with unauthorized credit card numbers, and making purchases at retail stores on October 5, 2014.  In all, Treadwell admitted to traveling to four separate retail stores, and making eight total purchases, using six different credit cards numbers that he was not authorized to use.  Upon his arrest, Treadwell was found in possession of 10 debit cards encoded with unauthorized credit card numbers.

Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, and a $100 special assessment.  Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of two years, a term of supervised release of not more than one year, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a special assessment of $100.  As part of his plea, Treadwell also agreed to forfeit $49,953.41 in cash proceeds of the charged offenses.

Co-defendants Anderson, Barimah, Collins, Estinville, Kale, Moore, Penn, and Williams are currently scheduled for a jury trial on April 27, 2015.  Co-defendant Kyandre Banks remains a fugitive.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Boise Police Department.

BOISE — U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today that her office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit has settled a lawsuit for fire suppression costs against John Faulkner and Faulkner Land and Livestock Company.  The office collected $88,000. The case involved two fires: the “Faulkner” fire in September, 2008 and the “Castlerock” fire in September, 2010. Both fires started when prescribed burns on Faulkner land near Gooding, Idaho escaped to federal land on a windy afternoon.  Idaho burn permits require permit-holders to provide adequate containment equipment and personnel to contain private burns.  The permits also require citizens to refrain from burning in windy conditions.  Crews from the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service provided a ground and air attack to suppress the fires in dry and steep terrain.

The United States owns, manages, and administers various parcels of public lands through the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service. Both agencies suppress uncontrolled wildfires within their jurisdiction pursuant to mutual aid and cooperative agreements. The money collected will reimburse the agencies for funds expended.

“Tactics, communication and human safety are of the utmost importance in order to prevent putting firefighters and private citizens in harm’s way,” said Olson. “We are pleased that our agencies can work cooperatively with efficiency. We are also pleased to be able to recover more than $88,000 for future fire suppression efforts,” Olson added. “We will continue to make strong efforts to ensure that in appropriate cases private parties who cause fires reimburse the taxpayers for putting out fires that burn or threaten federally managed land.”

BOISE – Jose Manuel Menchaca, 35, and Nicole Danelle Nieto, 31, both of Nampa, Idaho, pleaded guilty in United States District Court to distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

Nieto, who pleaded guilty yesterday, sold methamphetamine to a police informant on two occasions in June 2014, according to information presented in court.  Law enforcement agents located additional methamphetamine when they searched Nieto’s residence on June 18, 2014. On that same date, Nieto admitted she was selling methamphetamine.

Menchaca, who pleaded guilty today, sold methamphetamine to a police informant on three separate occasions, according to the plea agreement.

A federal grand jury indicted Menchaca and Nieto in two separate indictments filed on October 15, 2014.  Although charged separately, the cases are both part of a larger long-term investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force.  The investigation focused on the “Norteno” Northside gang, which is active in Nampa and other parts of the Treasure Valley.  Fourteen individuals were indicted on drug and gun charges as a result of the investigation.

The charge against Menchaca is punishable by a minimum of 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine up to $5 million, and a minimum of 4 years supervised release.  He is scheduled for sentencing on May 28, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge, at the federal courthouse in Boise.

The charge against Nieto is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and at least 3 years of supervised release.  She is scheduled for sentencing on May 26, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge, at the federal courthouse in Boise.

These cases and the other related cases are the result of a joint investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force and the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force is comprised of federal, state and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Boise Police Department; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and Idaho Department of Probation and Parole. The Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), includes the cooperative law enforcement efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and U.S. Marshals Service.  The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

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

POCATELLO - Caitlin Eagle, 25, of Fort Hall, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States District Court to twelve months and one day in prison, and six months in a halfway house, followed by three years of supervised release, for assault on a federal officer, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

On February 18, 2014, Fort Hall police were dispatched to an area in Fort Hall after a report of shots fired. The caller said the persons involved were dressed in black and were running from the area. The responding officer arrived in the area and saw a person in a black coat. The officer tried to talk with the person, but she continued walking away from the officer. The person, later identified as Eagle, gave the officer a false name and was uncooperative. The officer smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her person, a violation of Fort Hall tribal law, and the officer attempted to arrest her. As the officer tried to handcuff her, she became combative and struck the officer in the face several times. The officer was able to handcuff Eagle and with the help of another officer was able to get Eagle into the police car. The injured officer was treated at the hospital for abrasions on his cheek and nose.

The case was investigated by the Fort Hall Police Department.

BOISE – Jennifer A. Gallagher, 32, of Margate, Florida, and Danielle M. Cook, 29, of Pembrooke Pines, Florida, were each sentenced to 12 months in federal prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Gallagher and Cook to serve three years of supervised release, and to jointly pay $26,500 in restitution. Both women pled guilty on December 18, 2014.

According to the plea agreements, Cook and Gallagher admitted that, between August 9th and 13th, 2014, they traveled to the District of Idaho to participate in a scheme to defraud financial institutions by cashing stolen checks. In particular, Cook and Gallagher admitted to obtaining stolen checks and driver's licenses, altering their appearances, including by the use of wigs, such that they would closely resemble the photographs on the stolen driver's licenses, then cashing the stolen checks through the far lane of numerous banks in the Treasure Valley. At least twelve such checks were cashed by Cook and Gallagher.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Ada County Sheriff's Office, the Meridian Police Department, and the Boise Police Department.

BOISE - William Clarence Brower, 51, of Hazelton, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday by Chief United States District Judge B. Lynn Winmill to 110 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for two counts of transfer of obscene images to minors and possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Brower pled guilty on November 25, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, the investigation began in February 2014, when the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) received a request for assistance from the Massachusetts State Police regarding an unknown adult male using the social media website “Kik” messenger to send photographs of an erect penis to a 10-year-old female in Massachusetts.  An undercover detective took over the child’s online identity and made the suspect aware that “she” was 10 years old.  The suspect replied, “C00000l.  I don't mind that you are so young,” followed by sexually explicit comments.   After having learned he was communicating with a ten-year-old, the suspect continued to send similar pictures and sexual comments directed at the child.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated investigation, sheriff’s deputies in Maricopa County, Arizona, received a complaint from a family in Mesa, Arizona, that their 13-year-old daughter had been receiving unsolicited sexually explicit text messages from an unknown individual using “Kik” messenger.  The messages were accompanied by images of an erect penis.   The investigators in Massachusetts and Arizona independently developed information suggesting that an individual with last name Brower in Hazelton, Idaho, was responsible.

According to the plea agreement, Idaho ICAC investigators learned that the suspect, William Clarence Brower, of Hazelton, is a registered sex offender.  He had been convicted in 2008 of felony indecent exposure in Twin Falls County.  They served a search warrant at Brower’s residence on February 21, 2014.  A forensic examiner found more than 24,000 digital images considered relevant to the investigation on Brower’s cell phone.  These included pictures depicting child pornography, child erotica, images of a male subject wearing female undergarments, numerous images of a male exposing his penis, and non-pornographic images of numerous young females that appear to have been obtained through a social media application or web site.  Brower was interviewed and took responsibility for using his cell phone to send using “Kik” messenger hundreds of sexually explicit photos of himself to random persons, most of whom he knew were under the age of 18.  Brower also admitted that he possessed images and videos of child pornography.

The case was investigated by the Idaho Attorney General’s Office, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Boise Police Department, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department, the Department of State Police of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Jerome County Sheriff’s Department.

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

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department announced today that it has awarded more than $2 billion in compassionate compensation to eligible claimants under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).

The RECA was enacted in 1990 as a non-adversarial alternative to litigation for individuals who contracted certain illnesses following exposure to radiation as a result of the United States’ atmospheric nuclear testing program and uranium ore processing operations during the Cold War.  Congress expanded the scope of the law’s coverage in 2000.  In its present form, the RECA provides lump sum compensation awards to individuals who contracted specified diseases in three defined populations: uranium miners, millers and ore transporters who are eligible for $100,000 per claim; participants in atmospheric nuclear weapons tests who are eligible for $75,000 per claim; and individuals who lived downwind of the Nevada Test Site (downwinders) who are eligible for $50,000 per claim.

“RECA claimants worked in hazardous occupations and were subjected to increased risk of disease to serve the national security interests of the United States,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.  “This extraordinary statute provides partial restitution to these individuals and their families for the sacrifices they made during a critical time in our nation’s history.”

Compensation has been awarded to individuals residing in every state.  Since 1990, nearly 43,000 claims have been filed and 32,000 claims have been approved.  Residents of the Four Corners Region of the American southwest have filed the majority of RECA claims.  The department has awarded more than 9,400 claims filed by residents of Arizona, valued at more than $500 million.  Approximately 3,800 claims filed by residents of New Mexico have been awarded, valued at nearly $350 million, and approximately 5,800 claims filed by Utah residents have been awarded, valued at approximately $330 million.  Colorado residents have received awards in more than 3,200 claims, valued at more than $213 million.

Awards to Native American claimants total approximately $264 million distributed among members of 17 different tribes.  The department has awarded more than 2,800 claims filed by members of the Navajo Nation, valued at more than $212 million.  In addition, the department has awarded more than $24 million to members of the Laguna Pueblo Tribe and more than $9 million to members of the Apache Tribes.

Since 1990, the department has awarded more than 3,600 claims filed by veterans, civil servants and contractors who participated onsite in atmospheric nuclear tests, valued in excess of $266 million.  Nearly $100 million of this compensation was awarded following a surge in claims filed in 2011 and 2012.

“This benchmark reflects the department’s efforts to help thousands of U.S. citizens reach closure on a unique chapter of our history,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Kali N. Bracey of the Civil Division’s Torts Branch.  The RECA is administered by the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program, a component of the Constitutional and Specialized Torts Litigation section within the Torts Branch.

The Department of Justice is a part of a broad inter-agency network that includes the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Energy, comprising the comprehensive federal radiation compensation system.  Eligibility determinations are routinely coordinated with these agencies.

The RECA will expire on July 9, 2022, and claims received after that date will be barred.  Individuals interested in filing a claim may visit the department’s RECA website or contact the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program at 800-729-7327.

COEUR D'ALENE - Adam Lee SiJohn, 26, of Worley, Idaho, was sentenced today to six months in prison for his part in the theft of more than $22,000 from the Benewah Market in Plummer, Idaho, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Court Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered SiJohn to pay $22,665.04 in restitution. SiJohn was indicted by a federal grand jury in Coeur d'Alene on October 21, 2014, and pleaded guilty to theft from a tribal organization on December 10, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, SiJohn admitted that on the late evening and early morning of August 20 and 21, 2014, he and his two co-defendants devised a plan to rob the Benewah Market. SiJohn  as given the keys and the combination to the store safe. SiJohn took three bank bags from the safe. The bags contained cash and checks totaling $22,655.04.

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

COEUR D’ALENE - Ricky Allen Fisher, 35, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was sentenced today to 99 months in federal prison for bank robberies he committed in Ontario, Oregon and Cottonwood, Idaho, announced U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson. U.S. District Court Judge Edward J. Lodge increased Fisher’s sentence from 87 to 99 months because Fisher committed the bank robberies within days of being released from prison. Judge Lodge also ordered Fisher to pay restitution to each of the three banks he robbed. Fisher pleaded guilty to the charges on December 8, 2014.

In his plea agreement, Fisher admitted to being released from federal prison on May 6, 2014. Fisher left the prison and took a bus to Idaho. He arrived on May 9, 2014, and was taken to Ontario, Oregon, where he robbed a Chase Bank of $1,600. Five days later he entered U.S. Bank in Ontario, Oregon, demanded cash and left with $1,334.00. On May 16, 2014, Fisher robbed the U.S. Bank in Cottonwood, Idaho and took $2,324.00. Fisher was driven to each bank by Jennifer Balfe, 19, who previously pled guilty and was sentenced to 27 months in prison.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Lewiston City Police, Idaho State Police, Ontario City Police, Cottonwood City Police and Idaho County Sheriff’s Office.

SALT LAKE CITY – Joan Osborn, 57, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was arrested today for threatening to assault and murder a Utah federal judge, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Idaho is handling the prosecution, rather than the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah, in accordance with Department of Justice policy because the federal judge sits in the District of Utah.  Osborn was indicted by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City on February 25, 2015. 

Osborn is scheduled to appear in court on March 2, 2015, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Evelyn J. Furse at the federal courthouse in Salt Lake City.

If convicted, the charge is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service.                                                                             

An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct and is not evidence of guilt.  A person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOISE – Jess Ramirez-Orta, 27, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced today to eight years in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Ramirez-Orta’s girlfriend and co-defendant, Marina Morales, 24, also of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine.  United States District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Ramirez-Orta and Morales to forfeit $150,000 in cash proceeds.  Ramirez-Orta was ordered to serve five years of supervised release, while Morales was ordered to serve three years of supervised release.

According to the court documents, Ramirez-Orta and Morales agreed to transport 5.3 pounds of heroin and 4.2 pounds of methamphetamine from Phoenix, Arizona to Seattle, Washington.  As the couple was passing through Twin Falls, Idaho, they were stopped for driving 87 miles per hour in a 60 miles per hour zone.  Neither the driver, Ramirez-Orta, nor the passenger, Morales, had a valid driver’s license.  The heroin and methamphetamine was discovered in the trunk of the rental car they were driving.  Morales had no prior felony convictions, while Ramirez-Orta had previously been convicted of Burglary and Felony Assault.  Ramirez-Orta was on felony probation at the time of his arrest in Idaho.

The case was investigated by the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

BOISE – Elizabeth Carter, 21, of Reno, Nevada, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to one count of access device fraud for using counterfeit credit cards, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Sentencing is set for May 5, 2015, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

Carter, and co-defendant Rapphel Johnson, who already pleaded guilty, were indicted in September 2014, for access device fraud (credit card fraud) and identity theft.  According to the plea agreement, Carter admitted that on September 1, 2014, she and Johnson knowingly used counterfeit credit cards containing the account numbers of real people to make a number of fraudulent purchases in Boise at stores including Rite Aid, Subway, T-Mobile, Finish Line, and Macy’s.  In particular, Carter admitted using a counterfeit credit card, with another person’s account number, to purchase items at T-Mobile at the Boise Towne Square Mall.  Additionally, Carter admitted that when she and Johnson were contacted by police, at a motel room rented with a counterfeit credit card, Johnson threw several counterfeit credit cards out the motel room window.  The co-defendant, Johnson, is set for sentencing on March 16, 2015.

A violation of access device fraud is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a special assessment of $100.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Boise Police Department.