District of Idaho
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Caldwell Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Sexually Entice a MinorRead the Press Release
BOISE – Tyler Douglas Asker, 33, of Caldwell, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison on the charge of attempted use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor, which involved the defendant using the internet to entice a minor into sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, between August 3, 2023, and August 18, 2023, Asker communicated online with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl. During the communications, Asker sent the purported child an explicit video and discussed engaging the child in sexual acts. Asker requested the child’s address and was arrested after he traveled to meet the child.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also sentenced Asker to ten years of supervised release. Asker will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction.
The investigation was part of “Operation Summertime Blues,” a joint local, state, and federal undercover operation conducted in Boise in August 2023 to identify individuals predisposed to meet minors for sexual contact. Participating agencies included the Boise Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Meridian Police Department, the Garden City Police Department, and the Ada County Sheriff’s Office.
Asker is the last of three defendants charged in federal court as a result of Operation Summertime Blues. Earlier this year, Shawn Edwin Long, 42, of Kuna, and Daniel DeLong, 44, of Ontario, were both sentenced by Judge Winmill to 60 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for attempted use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor.
“I am grateful to all the agencies who supported ‘Operation Summertime Blues,’” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “The proactive and collaborative approach used to catch these would-be predators is essential to protecting Idaho’s children. We will continue to pursue anyone seeking to sexually exploit minors through online communications.”
“This attempt to prey on a child was fortunately thwarted though the unquestionable expertise found through our law enforcement partnerships,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “Dark ideations that would put our children at risk cannot be allowed to thrive in the shadows of cyberspace, and it is our collective efforts that will protect Idaho communities from online predators.”
“I am very proud of the work our ICAC Unit has done to protect children across Idaho,” said Attorney General Raúl Labrador. “They have forged solid relationships with federal and local prosecutors and law enforcement agencies across Idaho. These demonstrated partnerships are critical for keeping our communities safe from predators and abusers.”
“One of the highest responsibilities we have as law enforcement, is to protect those who are vulnerable and unable to protect themselves—our children,” said Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar. “Those like Mr. Asker, who would prey on our children, deserve our utmost attention, our strongest investigative and prosecutorial efforts, and our dedication to keep them from being successful in their efforts to victimize our society’s most vulnerable.”
“We are extremely proud of the work by our men and women involved in this case,” said Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea. “These cases are very difficult especially with the ever-changing world of technology coupled with the toll these types of investigations take on our investigators. It is their dedication and excellence that helped bring another predator to justice.”
“These are difficult investigations for the victims, their families, and our investigators,” said Garden City Police Chief Cory Stambaugh. “I am thankful that the work by the members of the task force have put another person who preys on kids in prison.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kassandra McGrady prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Twin Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Providing Illegal Firearms, Including “Glock Switches,” to Californian with Cartel TiesRead the Press Release
BOISE – Arthur Michael Rhyne, a/k/a Arthur Michael O’Neil, 41, of Twin Falls, was sentenced to 7 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, in August 2023, special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began investigating Rhyne for illegally obtaining and shipping firearms. Agents learned that Rhyne attempted to ship a loaded Glock 9mm pistol with a machinegun conversion device, called a “switch,” installed on the Glock. A machinegun conversion device is a device that, when integrated with a semiautomatic firearm, will convert it to fire in fully automatic capacity. This conversion of a Glock pistol with a “switch” machinegun conversion device, for example, will result in a rate-of-fire of approximately 1,100 – 1,200 rounds per minute, making these devices particularly lethal.
In October 2023, ATF agents obtained a federal search warrant for Rhyne’s residence in Twin Falls. Upon searching a safe in the residence, agents located 16 firearms, 14 machinegun conversion devices, 3 high-capacity drum magazines, 3 suppressors, more than 2,100 rounds of ammunition, including armor piercing ammunition, and 78 grams of methamphetamine. In addition to the Glock “switches,” agents also seized “Drop In Auto Sears,” which are machinegun conversion devices designed for a rifle platform firearm.
At the time of his arrest, Rhyne was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2008 California conviction for second degree commercial burglary.
According to court filings, Rhyne told agents that he was transferring firearms and ammunition to individuals in California. Rhyne admitted that he was purchasing the items, including Glock switches and silencers from a person overseas and then sending firearms and Glock switches to California. He also discussed armor piercing ammunition located in the safe and said it was purchased for his contact in California. When describing his contact in California who was receiving the firearms, Rhyne described him being a cartel drug dealer and said he believed the guns were going to Mexico.
“Glock switches and similar conversion devices are simple to manufacture and are easy to install. They turn regular firearms into machineguns capable of inflicting a tremendous toll in a few split seconds,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “We will not tolerate the proliferation of the devices on our streets and will use all of our resources to hold accountable anyone who would distribute these deadly and illegal devices.”
“Mr. Rhyne clearly knew he was prohibited from possessing, let alone transferring, machine guns and other firearms and ammunition,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “So, this sentence is well warranted. ATF will continue to investigate those prohibited from possessing firearms and still continue to do so, as well as those who possess these deadly machinegun conversion devices.”
“Today's sentencing marks a significant victory in our ongoing efforts to combat illegal trafficking of these “trigger switches”. By partnering with the ATF, we have demonstrated our unwavering commitment to the goal of safe and secure communities for all,” said Inspector in Charge, Anthony Galetti, of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “The use and distribution through the mail of these illegal conversion devices poses a serious threat to public safety, and we will continue to work tirelessly to dismantle such operations.”
When sentencing Rhyne, Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill noted the case was “spine chilling.” Judge Winmill stated that by arming people with automatic firearms, silencers, and high-capacity magazines, Rhyne had created a law enforcement officer’s worst nightmare. Judge Winmill also ordered Rhyne to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence and to forfeit all recovered firearms and ammunition. Rhyne pleaded guilty to the federal charge in December 2023.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the ATF, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Twin Falls Police Department, for their collaborative work on this case.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Blackadar and Christopher Atwood.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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RhyneA_Government's Sentencing MemoU.S. Attorney Hurwit Highlights Success of Project Safe Neighborhoods InitiativeRead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced the results of three separate firearms and ammunition cases in Southern Idaho today that were prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.
“Our mission is to keep Idahoans safe from violence, and this means enforcing the law that prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms and/or ammunition, especially those offenders with prior violent felony convictions such as these defendants,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “I am grateful to our prosecutors and our law enforcement partners for their dedication to these critical cases, which help keep Idaho a safe and wonderful place to live.”
- Convicted Felon and Domestic Abuser Sentenced to 87 Months for Unlawfully Possessing Firearms, Including a Ghost Gun.
In one case, Brent Logan, 35, of Boise, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford to 87 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court records, in the winter of 2023, officers responded to a report of domestic violence. Logan was found in possession of five firearms, including a personally manufactured firearm, also known as a ghost gun. At the time of the offense, Logan was on probation for two prior convictions involving domestic violence and was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault.
Judge Brailsford also ordered Logan to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Logan pleaded guilty to the federal charge in December 2023.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit thanked the Violent Crimes Unit of the Boise Police Department and the ATF for their investigation on this case.
This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Manweiler.
- Garden Valley Man Sentenced to 66 months for Unlawfully Possessing Ammunition.
In another case, Forest Saba, 39, of Garden Valley, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford to 66 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of ammunition. According to court records, on September 28, 2022, Boise police officers were providing an escort to Saba’s estranged wife due to domestic violence and stalking concerns. Officers observed a vehicle following the wife. Saba was a passenger in this vehicle. Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and Saba fled on foot. Officers eventually arrested him. In Saba’s pocket, officers located ammunition and two knives.
At the time of his arrest, Saba was prohibited from possessing ammunition due to three prior felony convictions, including a conviction for aggravated battery. This is Saba’s third federal firearms conviction.
Judge Brailsford also ordered Saba to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. The district court found Saba guilty after a stipulated bench trial in October 2023.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the Boise Police Department and the ATF, which led to the charge.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francis Zebari and Christian Nafzger.
- Nyssa Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Unlawfully Possessing Ammunition.
In a third case, Oscar Garcia, 38, of Nyssa, Oregon, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford to 120 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of ammunition. According to court records, on December 22, 2022, officers attempted to arrest Garcia on a warrant for violations of his supervised release. He refused to pull over in Payette, Idaho and began a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of 110 mph. He drove into Oregon and crashed his vehicle in Nyssa and attempted to flee on foot. He was ultimately apprehended and searched. He possessed a .40 caliber magazine containing 14 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.
At the time of his arrest, Garcia was prohibited from possessing ammunition due to a 2011 conviction in the U.S. District Court, District of Idaho, for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and attempted murder in aid of racketeering. Garcia had previously been convicted in Oregon of manslaughter I, assault II, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, escape III, and assault IV.
Judge Brailsford also ordered Garcia to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence and pay a $1,000 fine. Garcia pleaded guilty to the federal charge in October 2023.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit credited the United States Marshal Service, the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, the Ontario Police Department, the Fruitland Police Department, the Payette County Sheriff’s Office, the Nyssa Police Department, and the ATF, for their collaborative work on this case.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Nafzger.
These three cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The Logan case was prosecuted by 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.
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Idaho Falls Man Sentenced to over 16 years in Federal Prison for Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Brett Victor Castro, 37, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced to 200 months in federal prison for coercion and enticement of a minor, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, on June 7, 2023, Castro communicated with a 15-year-old female over the internet using the Facebook Messenger application. Castro quickly directed the conversation to one of a sexual nature. When the minor informed Castro that she was only 15 years old, Castro responded by asking her if she would like to have sex with a 37-year-old. Castro offered marijuana in exchange for sex. Castro drove to the minor, picked her up, provided her marijuana and drove her to a remote location in Idaho Falls. At the remote location Castro engaged in various sexual acts with the minor. The minor reported that during the sexual encounter she asked Castro to stop, and he did not stop, telling her he was almost finished.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Castro to be placed on supervised release for 15 years following his prison sentence. Castro pleaded guilty to the charge in October 2023.
“We will spare no effort in protecting Idaho’s children from sexual predators,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “This sentence should send a message that severe consequences await anyone who would seek to sexually exploit our children.”
“The online threats children face is unlike any seen by prior generations and necessitates diligence by both law enforcement and those closest to those children,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “HSI and our partners work tirelessly to protect the community from predators such as these and in this instance, take them off the streets for years to come. This requires a joint effort, however, and we ask everyone to play a part in protecting the most vulnerable amongst us.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Idaho Falls and the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Former Farm Foreman Pleads Guilty to Extorting H-2A Agricultural Workers and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
BOISE – Ernesto Garibay Garza, 62, of Alamo, Texas, pleaded guilty to extorting H-2A agricultural workers and tax fraud, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, Garza worked as a supervisor and foreman of farm workers at F.D.C., an agricultural services company that operates farms throughout Idaho, including in Glenns Ferry. F.D.C. employed H-2A agricultural workers each year from approximately March to November. Between at least 2005 and 2019, and while he served as a supervisor and foreman, Garza was responsible for preparing and submitting payroll timesheets for H-2A workers based upon the number of hours worked. Garza was also responsible for assigning various tasks and projects to the workers that he supervised.
Between at least 2014 and 2019, Garza charged certain H-2A agricultural workers a flat fee to work at F.D.C. under the H-2A program, with the fee ranging from approximately $750 to $2,500. Garza charged the fees without F.D.C.’s knowledge or approval, and the H-2A agricultural workers paid the fees to Garza each year because they feared that they would be fired or not allowed to return to F.D.C. under the H-2A program in future years if they did not pay. Garza was not permitted to request or collect such fees under H-2A agricultural worker rules and regulations.
Between 2013 and 2019, Garza also deposited approximately $493,153 in unreported income into his personal bank accounts, in part, from the extortion described above as well as a separate scheme to defraud the farm. Garza did not disclose the additional income on his tax return for the years 2013 through 2019, which resulted in false Form 1040 tax returns being prepared and filed.
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services, the H-2A program allows U.S. employers who meet certain requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs that cannot otherwise be filled because there are not enough U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available to do the work.
Garza is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of Idaho State Police and Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Mazorol and Robert Firpo are prosecuting the case.
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Bear Lake County Woman Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Federal Prison for Soliciting MurderRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – DeAnn Parkin, 31, of Ovid, Idaho, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison for soliciting murder, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, on May 23, 2023, special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) received a tip from a reliable source regarding an individual, DeAnn Parkin, attempting to hire a hitman through a parody website. Parkin, motivated by personal grievances, sought the murder of the intended victim, providing detailed information about that victim and expressing urgency in email exchanges from May 14 to May 22, 2023. Undercover operations began on May 23, with an undercover agent introducing himself to Parkin as a hitman. The undercover agent communicated with Parkin through text messages and calls. Over several days, Parkin persistently and unequivocally conveyed her desire for the murder to be carried out. The undercover operation culminated with an in-person meeting in Ovid on June 6, 2023, where Parkin provided the undercover agent a $100 down payment, a diamond ring, and an agreement for future payments. Parkin was arrested after the payment occurred.
“While the defendant’s scheme to arrange a murder is shocking, it should not be surprising that law enforcement—in this case the ATF—was in a position to stop it,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Along with our partners, we will continue to hold violent offenders accountable, regardless of the nature of their criminal conduct.”
“The act of murder is in itself a heinous crime,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “But the act of attempting to hire someone to commit murder is that much more egregious. When ATF learns of a murder for hire plot, we will do all we can to thwart these nefarious plans.”
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Parkin to be placed on supervised release for three years following her prison sentence. Parkin pleaded guilty to use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire on January 9, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit applauded the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their work on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett prosecuted the case.
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Post Falls Woman Admits to Evading over $150,000 in TaxesRead the Press Release
COEUR D'ALENE – Ashlee Lyn Wilson, 37, of Post Falls, Idaho, pleaded guilty to tax evasion, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, Wilson failed to file federal income tax returns for six years, from 2018 to 2023. During that time, she earned total wages of $1,024,872 and evaded paying $153,131 in federal income tax.
Wilson pleaded guilty the charge and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, 2024 at the federal courthouse in Coeur d’Alene. Wilson faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, which led to the charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci Whelan is prosecuting the case.
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Boise Man Sentenced to 80 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOISE – Michael McClain, 37, of Boise, was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, in March 2023, McClain and his co-defendant, Sonya Trujillo, sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to another person. Firearms were also present during McClain’s course of drug trafficking. At the time of his arrest, McClain was on probation for a felony drug crime. Although McClain admitted to joining a gang in his youth, he contends he dropped out of the gang during his previous prison sentence.
“This case reflects the public safety results generated by the strong partnerships between our office and local law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “We will continue to leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of those who bring dangerous and deadly illicit drugs into Idaho.”
“It takes a strong collaborative approach to try and rid our communities of the dangerous drugs that endanger Idahoans’ lives every day,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “McClain’s sentencing highlights the dedication and tenacity of our Task Force and what can be achieved when we work together to dismantle drug trafficking organizations in our state."
“The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office remains firm in our commitment to hold those accountable who commit crimes in our communities,” said Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue. “More, we affirm our commitment to the collaborative partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the FBI Metro Violent Crime and Gang Task Force team who work so hard to bring these cases to adjudication.”
“These investigations require teamwork, patience and a tremendous amount of time,” said Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram. “This is yet another victory for Idahoans in our relentless pursuit of justice in the Gem state. Caldwell is proud to be part of the team that continues to fight the war on drugs.”
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered McClain to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. McClain was indicted as part of a 25-defendant investigation in August 2023 and he was convicted by a federal jury in January 2024. Co-defendant Trujillo pleaded guilty, on November 16, 2023, to distributing fentanyl and was sentenced, on March 14, 2024, to 46 months in federal prison. Judge Brailsford ordered Trujillo to serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force for its efforts in this case. The Task Force is comprised of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Caldwell Police Department, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho Department of Correction.
McClain was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Nafzger and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Kelsey Manweiler. The Special Assistant U.S. Attorney was 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.
This case was also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Idaho Man Arrested for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
Alexander Scott Mercurio, 18, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was arrested Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Coeur d’Alene for attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS.
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Mercurio pledged his allegiance to ISIS and intended to commit attacks on its behalf. He planned to attack individuals at churches in Coeur d’Alene on April 7 using weapons, including knives, firearms, and fire.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) conducted the investigation and thwarted Mercurio’s violent plot. Mercurio is currently in custody awaiting his initial appearance which will be set by the Court.
“As alleged in the complaint, the defendant swore an oath of loyalty to ISIS and planned to wage an attack in its name on churches in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Thanks to the investigative efforts of the FBI, the defendant was taken into custody before he could act, and he is now charged with attempting to support ISIS’s mission of terror and violence. The Justice Department will continue to relentlessly pursue, disrupt, and hold accountable those who would commit acts of terrorism against the people and interests of the United States.”
“The defendant allegedly pledged loyalty to ISIS and sought to attack people attending churches in Idaho, a truly horrific plan which was detected and thwarted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “This investigation demonstrates the FBI’s steadfast commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to stop those who wish to commit acts of violence on behalf of – or inspired by – foreign terrorist groups.”
“Across the Department of Justice, and in my office, we have no higher calling than to protect our nation and our communities from terrorism. Along with our law enforcement partners, my office will always remain laser-focused on this part of our mission,” said U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit for the District of Idaho. “I want to thank the FBI for its tireless work on this investigation and its thorough efforts to prevent violence. The support from local law enforcement was also integral to successfully disrupting the alleged plot.”
“This case should be an eye-opener to the dangers of self-radicalization, which is a real threat to our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Protecting the American people from terrorism remains the FBI’s number one priority, and we continue to encourage the public to report anything suspicious to the FBI or your local law enforcement.”
Mercurio is charged by a federal complaint with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. If convicted, Mercurio faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge would determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case with valuable assistance provided by the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, and Ada County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather S. Patricco and David G. Robins and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin D. Whatcott for the District of Idaho, and Charles Kovats and Andrea Broach of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
ComplaintCoeur d’Alene Man Arrested for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Alexander Scott Mercurio, 18, of Coeur d’Alene, was arrested Saturday, April 6, 2024 in Coeur d’Alene for attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Mercurio pledged his allegiance to ISIS and intended to commit attacks on its behalf. He planned to attack individuals at churches in Coeur d’Alene on April 7, 2024, using weapons, including knives, firearms, and fire.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) conducted the investigation and thwarted Mercurio’s violent plot. Mercurio is currently in custody awaiting his initial appearance, which will be set by the Court.
“As alleged in the complaint, the defendant swore an oath of loyalty to ISIS and planned to wage an attack in its name on churches in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Thanks to the investigative efforts of the FBI, the defendant was taken into custody before he could act, and he is now charged with attempting to support ISIS’s mission of terror and violence. The Justice Department will continue to relentlessly pursue, disrupt, and hold accountable those who would commit acts of terrorism against the people and interests of the United States.”
“The defendant allegedly pledged loyalty to ISIS and sought to attack people attending churches in Idaho, a truly horrific plan which was detected and thwarted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “This investigation demonstrates the FBI’s steadfast commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to stop those who wish to commit acts of violence on behalf of – or inspired by – foreign terrorist groups.”
“Across the Department of Justice, and in my office, we have no higher calling than to protect our nation and our communities from terrorism. Along with our law enforcement partners, my office will always remain laser-focused on this part of our mission,” said U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit. “I want to thank the FBI for its tireless work on this investigation and its thorough efforts to prevent violence. The support from local law enforcement was also integral to successfully disrupting the alleged plot.”
“This case should be an eye-opener to the dangers of self-radicalization, which is a real threat to our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Protecting the American people from terrorism remains the FBI’s number one priority, and we continue to encourage the public to report anything suspicious to the FBI or your local law enforcement.”
Mercurio is charged by a federal complaint with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. If convicted, Mercurio faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge would determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case with valuable assistance provided by the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ada County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather S. Patricco and David G. Robins and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin D. Whatcott for the District of Idaho, and Charles Kovats and Andrea Broach of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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MercurioA_Complaint and AffidavitU.S. Attorney Hurwit Announces Federal Prison Sentences for Three Southern Idaho Drug TraffickersRead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced the results of three separate drug trafficking cases in Southern Idaho today.
1. Coconspirators Each Sentenced to Over 100 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine.
In one case, Jason Castillo, 46, of Nampa, and Cheyanne Juarez, 31, of Ontario, Oregon were each sentenced to over 100 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine.
According to court records, on December 20, 2022, Castillo sold two and half pounds of methamphetamine to another person. On January 31, 2023, Juarez sold two pounds of methamphetamine to another person. Their co-defendant, Owenn Mitchell, 41, of Salem, Oregon, was indicted on two counts of aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine. Mitchell’s case is scheduled for trial on June 24, 2024.
In a separate federal case, Castillo also pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In January of 2023, Castillo went on a crime spree where he was found in possession of a pound of methamphetamine, approximately 63 grams of fentanyl, and three firearms. Castillo has several prior violent felonies involving domestic violence and drug trafficking offenses. He also has a prior federal felony for unlawful possession of a firearm. These priors make him prohibited from possessing firearms.
On April 2, 2024, Senior U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary, from the Northern District of Ohio, sitting by designation, sentenced Castillo to 175 months (over 14 and a half years) in federal prison, on each case to run concurrently with each other. Judge Zouhary also ordered Castillo to serve five years of supervised release after the completion of his prison sentence.
On April 4, 2024, U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford sentenced Juarez to 101 months (over 8 years) in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release after the completion of her prison sentence.
2. Nampa Woman Trafficking Meth, Heroin, and Fentanyl Sentenced to 66 Months in Federal Prison.
In a separate case, Mary Jo Myers, 46, of Nampa, was sentenced to five and a half years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl. Senior U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary, from the Northern District of Ohio, sitting by designation, also ordered Myers to serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence.
According to court records, Myers was pulled over for a traffic violation on February 10, 2022. During the traffic stop, a canine trained in the detection of the odor of controlled substances, conducted an open-air sniff around the vehicle and positively alerted to the presence of the odor of a controlled substance emanating from the vehicle. Investigators searched the vehicle and found over a half pound of methamphetamine, 82 grams of heroin, approximately 150 fentanyl pills, and 12 grams of fluorfentanyl powder, a fentanyl analogue.
U.S Attorney Hurwit applauded the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, which is led by the FBI, for the investigations in the Castillo, Juarez, and Mitchell cases. In addition to the work of the Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, U.S. Attorney Hurwit thanked the following agencies for assisting in the investigation: the DEA, the ATF, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Caldwell Police Department, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, the Nampa Police Department, Idaho Department of Correction, the Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office, the Malheur County Sherriff’s Office, the Ontario Police Department, the Oregon State Police, and the High Desert Drug Task Force in Oregon.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit also commended Canyon County’s City-County Narcotics Unit (CCNU), which is comprised of investigators from the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office and the Caldwell Police Department, for their investigation in the Myers case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Manweiler and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Nafzger are prosecuting the Castillo and Juarez cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse prosecuted the Myers case.
An indictment is merely an allegation or a set of allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Castillo, Juarez, and Mitchell indictments were part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The Castillo, Juarez, and Mitchell cases were prosecuted by 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.
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Pocatello Doctor Pays $96,000 to Settle Allegations That He Wrote Unlawful PrescriptionsRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Dr. Gerald Knouf, a family medicine doctor formerly of Pocatello, Idaho, agreed to pay $96,000 to resolve allegations that he wrote unlawful prescriptions, prescribed dangerous combinations of drugs, and billed Medicare and Medicaid for services that were not performed, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. The settlement also restricts Dr. Knouf’s DEA registration for five years.
According to the settlement agreement, the government alleged that Dr. Knouf wrote prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose and/or were issued outside the usual course of professional practice between 2018 and 2023. That included prescriptions for dangerous combinations of drugs, including overlapping prescriptions for opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxers. The government alleged the Dr. Knouf’s actions violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the False Claims Act (FCA).
“We will continue to hold prescribers accountable for writing unlawful prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances wherever such conduct is found,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Cases like this demonstrate my office’s ongoing commitment to protecting our community from drug-related harms no matter who the offender might be, even if, as in this case, the offender is a medical professional.”
“The core mission of the Drug Enforcement Administration is to protect our communities, not just from illicit drug dealers, but also from the health care professionals who might misuse their positions of special trust to cause harm,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The settlement in this case clearly shows that the DEA and our partners will hold everyone, including medical providers, accountable for their actions when they threaten the safety of our communities.”
“Medical professionals who prescribe dangerous amounts of controlled substances put their patients at severe risk of overdose and undermine our efforts to halt the opioid crisis,” said Steven J. Ryan, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to curb such irresponsible prescribing and billing schemes at every turn.”
This matter was investigated jointly by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, with additional assistance provided by the Idaho Board of Pharmacy, the Idaho State Police, the Pocatello Police Department, and the Idaho Department of Correction.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no admission or determination of liability.
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California Man and Utah Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking in IdahoRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Hank David Langley, 42, of Visalia, California, and Thomas Joel Schooley, 39, of Hyrum, Utah, were sentenced to 11-and-a-half years and eight years in federal prison, respectively, for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl in eastern Idaho, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
Langley and Schooley were indicted by a federal grand jury on methamphetamine trafficking charges in March 2023. According to court records, detectives with the HIDTA BADGES Task Force learned that Langley was bringing large amounts of illegal controlled substances into eastern Idaho from California. In January 2023, investigators intercepted a package sent through the U.S. Postal Service that contained 1,000 grams of methamphetamine. The package was addressed to Langley. Later the same month, Langley was arrested after a traffic stop in Pocatello. A pound and a half of methamphetamine, over 1,000 fentanyl pills, and a firearm were found in the car. Another firearm was later found in Langley’s hotel room as part of the investigation.
Based on information obtained during the investigation, detectives identified Schooley as Langley’s drug trafficking partner. On January 31, 2023, officers arrested Schooley after a traffic stop in Pocatello. Eighty grams of methamphetamine were seized during his arrest.
Langley entered a guilty plea to the charges on September 14, 2023. He was sentenced on January 16, 2024, by Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye to 140 months (11.5 years) in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
Schooley entered a guilty plea to the charges on October 16, 2023. He was sentenced on March 27, 2024, by Judge Nye to 97 months (8 years) in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
“Drug traffickers looking for a safe-harbor in Idaho should think again or be prepared to face the same consequences as the defendants in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Idaho enjoys stellar partnerships between federal and local law enforcement and, together, we will continue to target and remove dangerous drug dealers from our communities.”
“Drug traffickers such as Mr. Langley and Mr. Schooley prey on our communities peddling poison like methamphetamine and fentanyl,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The lengthy sentences in this case show the seriousness with which the Drug Enforcement Administration, our law enforcement partners, and the judicial system take this threat. If you deal drugs in Idaho, you will pay the price.”
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigations by the Bannock County Sheriff's Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Idaho State Police, and the Pocatello Police Department, which participated as part of the HIDTA BADGES Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe H. McLane prosecuted the case.
The BADGES Task Force is a collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that focuses primarily on drug trafficking crimes in Bannock County and throughout the region.
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Three East Idaho Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Separate Sex Crimes Involving Minor ChildrenRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced the outcomes in three separate East Idaho cases in which the defendants were sentenced to 21 years, 10 years, and 5 years in federal prison, respectively, for sex crimes against minor children.
“No one in Idaho law enforcement will tolerate this abhorrent conduct, and my Office is proud to continue our tradition of sending these types of offenders to federal prison, out of state, for long periods of time,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit.
On March 26, 2024, Jared Michael Crow, 24, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced to 257 months in federal prison for coercion and enticement of a minor. According to court records, on March 9, 2022, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Crow after receiving a report that he was having sexual conversations with minors at a high school in Idaho Falls. The case was referred for further investigation to the Idaho Crimes against Children Task (ICAC) Taskforce and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Eight minor-aged victims between the ages of 14 and 16 were identified. The investigation revealed that Crow followed a consistent predatory pattern of contacting minor females and providing alcohol, vape pens, and cash in exchange for sexually explicit images and sexual encounters.
“These child predators sought to exploit the most vulnerable, committing grave injustices that robs the victims of their youth,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “Through our law enforcement and private sector partnerships, we will relentlessly pursue those that commit child exploitation crimes, ensuring they face the full extent of the law.”
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Crow be placed on supervised release for fifteen years following his prison sentence.
In a separate case, Shawn Michael Young, 50, of Pocatello was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for possession of child pornography, on March 26, 2024. According to court records, in April 2018, the Chubbuck Police Department received a report that child pornography had been found on a cell phone belonging to Young. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) reviewed the files on Young’s phone. A total of 4,438 images of child pornography, including prepubescent children, were identified on the phone. In an interview, Young admitted to downloading and viewing images of child pornography.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Young to be placed on supervised release for fifteen years after the end of his prison term.
“Shawn Young contributed to the proliferation of a deplorable crime. Every time an image is shared or viewed, that child continues to be victimized,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The FBI and our partners are committed to protecting our children from those who prey on our most vulnerable.”
In another separate case, Bradley Allen Pedersen, 41, of Rupert, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor on March 25, 2024. According to court records, between August and September 2022, Pedersen communicated via the internet with an individual that was portrayed to be a 14-year-old female. That individual was actually an undercover investigator with the Rupert Police Department and Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. During the online exchange, the investigator, posing as the child, informed Pedersen of the child’s name, where she lived, and that she was a 14-year-old female. Pedersen repeatedly requested to meet the child for sex. On September 16, 2022, Pedersen traveled to meet the 14-year-old female at a pre-arranged location. Pedersen was arrested when he arrived at the meeting location.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Pedersen’s prison sentenced to be followed by ten years of supervised release.
The Crow case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Idaho Falls, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the Idaho Falls Police Department, and the Idaho ICAC Task Force. The Young case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Idaho Falls, the Chubbuck Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Pedersen case was investigated by the Rupert Police Department and the Idaho ICAC Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett and former Assistant U.S. Attorney John Shirts prosecuted these cases.
These case were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Pocatello Woman Sentenced to over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Helen Lorraine Monaco, 38, of Pocatello, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, on February 4, 2023, Monaco, and her husband (co-defendant Jonathan Monaco, 43,) were traveling from California to Idaho – where they reside – when their vehicle was stopped by law enforcement in Washoe County, Nevada. Law enforcement initially found 65 grams of methamphetamine in the vehicle along with fentanyl, marijuana, and a digital scale. Monaco and her husband were arrested and booked into the Washoe County Jail. While in jail, law enforcement obtained a search warrant to re-search the vehicle and found an additional 4,000 fentanyl pills, and over two pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a void behind the spare tire. Investigators gathered additional evidence that Monaco and her husband were working with co-defendant Eric Weimer, in the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl in southeast Idaho, and elsewhere.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Monaco to be placed on supervised release for five years following her prison sentence. Monaco pleaded guilty to the charge on December 11, 2023.
Co-defendant Jonathan Monaco entered a guilty plea to the charge of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and fentanyl, on February 1, 2024, and is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Winmill on May 7, 2024. Co-defendant Eric Weimer, 46, also of Pocatello, entered a guilty plea to the charge of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and fentanyl, on February 1, 2024, and is set to be sentenced before Judge Winmill on May 8, 2024.
“Fentanyl enforcement is a top priority for us in Eastern Idaho and throughout the state,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “I am thankful to our law enforcement partners who investigated this case and helped to dismantle this trafficking operation. We will continue to support this important work and make sure that drug traffickers face the justice that they deserve.”
“The successful outcome of this case is a testament to the strength of collaboration between law enforcement agencies across state lines. The Idaho State Police, along with our partners, remain committed to protecting our communities from the dangers of drug trafficking. Together, we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of Idaho's citizens,” said Captain Fritz Zweigart, District 5, Idaho State Police.
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit applauded the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Idaho State Police, the BADGES/HIDTA Taskforce, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in Nevada, and the Montana Highway Patrol for their collaborative work on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett prosecuted this case.
The BADGES Task Force is a collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that focuses primarily on drug trafficking crimes in Bannock County and throughout the region.
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Two Methamphetamine Traffickers in Nampa Each Sentenced to over 5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced the sentences imposed yesterday in two separate cases in which the defendants were sentenced to over five years in federal prison methamphetamine distribution.
“Methamphetamine has devastating effects on our communities, and we will spare no effort to make sure that those who deal this poison face significant consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “I want to thank our local law enforcement partners who worked hand-in-hand with our prosecutors in these cases. We will continue our teamwork to keep Idaho safe.”
Yesterday, Fernie Garcia, 36, of Nampa, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine. According to court records, in February 2023, Garcia sold a pound of methamphetamine to another person on two separate occasions. On February 22, 2023, Garcia was stopped by the Nampa Police Department. A drug canine alerted on the vehicle and two pounds of methamphetamine were found. Garcia was arrested on scene and admitted that the drugs in the vehicle belonged to him. At the time of arrest, Garcia was on parole for a felony sex offense. Although Garcia admitted to joining a gang in his youth, he contends he dropped out of the gang during his previous prison sentence.
“We’ll continue to work hard to keep our streets safe. Our police officers and their K-9 partners work diligently every shift to help us get drugs out of our community,” said Nampa Police Chief Joe Huff. “Criminals need to understand the Nampa Police Department works regularly with our law enforcement partners to put drug dealers in jail, and we have no plans of ending our team effort.”
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Garcia to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Garcia pleaded guilty to the charge in November 2023.
In a separate case, William James Thompson, III, 47, of Nampa, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court records, in May 2023, Thompson fled on foot from a traffic stop in Caldwell. Officers ran after Thompson and during the ensuing foot pursuit, Thompson broke through two fences in a residential area and discarded a bag containing 79 grams of methamphetamine. Thompson admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine. At the time of the offense, Thompson was on supervised release for a 2019 federal conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm.
“This is yet another display of collaboration and dedication to protecting and serving Idahoans,” said Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram. “We will not tolerate drug trafficking and we will use every ounce of teamwork to ensure our communities are safe.”
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Thompson to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Thompson pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine in December 2023.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the Nampa Police Department’s Special Investigation’s Unit and the Caldwell Police Department for their respective investigations. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Manweiler prosecuted the Garcia case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Blackadar prosecuted the Thompson case.
The Garcia case was prosecuted by 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.
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Idaho Falls Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 11,000 Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
BOISE – Patricia Gomez, 42, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. In imposing the sentence, U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford ordered that Gomez serve three years of supervised release after her term of incarceration.
According to court records, Gomez conspired with four codefendants to distribute fentanyl. Three of the codefendants – Juan Villa, 34, Tyson Mitchell, 37, and Kevin Sermon, 34, were incarcerated for prior drug crimes during the conspiracy. Villa had been arrested after bringing 20,000 fentanyl pills into Idaho. Villa, Mitchell, and Sermon recruited Gomez and Summer Jones, 37, of Idaho Falls, to receive drugs from a California based source of supply and transport the drugs to Idaho for further distribution.
Around May 29, 2023, Gomez traveled outside of Idaho to obtain a drug load in furtherance of the conspiracy. On May 30, 2023, Gomez returned to Idaho. Investigators stopped her vehicle and arrested her with 11,000 fentanyl pills.
Villa, Mitchell, Sermon, and Jones have all pleaded guilty to federal drug crimes and are awaiting sentencing in April and May.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the Idaho Falls Police Department, the Idaho State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration for their work on these cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Atwood and Francis Zebari prosecuted these cases.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Meridian Man Pleads Guilty to Destruction of an Energy Facility for Shooting at Two Idaho Power Hydroelectric Power PlantsRead the Press Release
BOISE – Randy Scott Vail, 59, of Meridian, pleaded guilty to destruction of an energy facility in Idaho, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, on June 8, 2023, and continuing into June 9, 2023, Vail shot at the Hells Canyon Dam hydroelectric power station and the Brownlee Dam hydroelectric power station causing power loss and substantial damage to both. The Hells Canyon Dam and the Brownlee Dam are located on the Snake River along the Idaho-Oregon border and were built and are operated by Idaho Power Company. The dams are essential to electricity production, transmission, and storage in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon.
Specifically, in the late-night hours of June 8, 2023, Vail arrived on the top of Hells Canyon Dam via motorcycle, loaded a rifle with ammunition and discharged the rifle, shooting at the power substations. As a result, power loss occurred at Hells Canyon Dam. Approximately one hour later, on June 9, 2023, Vail arrived via motorcycle to the Brownlee Dam. Vail again loaded a rifle with ammunition and shot at the dam’s power substations. As a result, large plumes of sparks were visible in the switch yard of the power plant.
Approximately 45 minutes after Vail shot the Brownlee Dam power substations, a sheriff deputy encountered Vail on a motorcycle on Highway 71 traveling south towards Cambridge, Idaho. Law enforcement initiated emergency lights and sirens, but Vail failed to yield and increased speed. After approximately three miles, Vail yielded to lights and sirens, and he was taken into custody. During a search and inventory of Vail and the motorcycle, law enforcement located bolt cutters, a guitar case housing two rifles, and live and spent ammunition. Vail also was carrying two yellow compressed air tanks with gasoline with the pressure gauge missing.
Damage and loss to the hydroelectric power stations was at least $546,982.46. In addition, the loss in power production at both facilities reduced capacity for Idaho Power, reducing power capacity in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington and thus caused a significant interruption and impairment of the function of the energy facilities.
Vail is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5, 2024 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended a host of federal, state, and local partners in both Idaho and Oregon, for their collaborative work on the case. They include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, the Adams County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Meridian Police Department, the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Boise Police Department, and the Baker County Sheriff’s Office and Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather S. Patricco and Erin C. Blackadar are prosecuting the case, in collaboration with the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
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Nampa Man Pleads Guilty to Selling His Co-Worker Fentanyl Pills That Resulted in the Co-Worker’s DeathRead the Press Release
BOISE – Tanner Lee Goforth, 37, of Nampa, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl after selling a co-worker fentanyl that led to his overdose death, announced U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit today.
According to court records, on May 17, 2022, Goforth met his friend and co-worker, the victim, at a local gas station where Goforth sold the victim 10 fentanyl pills. The victim went home, ingested the fentanyl intravenously, and died almost immediately. Nearly a half hour later, his girlfriend found him in their bathroom, called 911, and began performing CPR. Nampa Police Department officers and Nampa Fire Protection District arrived on scene and attempted life-saving measures including the administration of Narcan. Unfortunately, the victim was unable to be resuscitated.
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford will sentence Goforth on May 30, 2024. Judge Brailsford will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigation by the Nampa Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Canyon County Coroner’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse is prosecuting this case.
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Caldwell Man Sentenced to 46 months for Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
BOISE – Gabriel Rendon, 25, of Caldwell, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, on March 23, 2023, officers responded to shots being fired at a local business in Nampa. Upon arriving, Rendon fled from officers. Rendon was apprehended and a loaded handgun was found inside a satchel he was carrying.
At the time of his arrest, Rendon was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2016 conviction for robbery. Rendon was also on parole for three prior felony convictions for robbery, aggravated assault, and possession of a controlled substance. Although Rendon admitted he was a gang member, he contends he dropped out of the gang during his previous prison sentence.
“Part of our public safety mission is enforcing the law that prohibits felons from possessing firearms, especially those people with prior violent felony convictions such as this Defendant,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “We will continue to prosecute those who are prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous dangerous felony convictions.”
“This felon needs to be held accountable,” said Chief Joe Huff. “I am grateful no innocent community members and no police officers were injured or killed during this reckless incident, in the middle of the afternoon, in a busy commercial area of Nampa. I’m proud of the great teamwork between all of the agencies involved in bringing him to justice.”
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Rendon to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Rendon pleaded guilty to the federal charge in October of 2023.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit credited the cooperative efforts of the Nampa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which led to the charge.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis Zebari and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Manweiler, who was 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.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Licensed Big Game Outfitter and Licensed Big Game Guide from Challis Indicted for Violating the Lacey ActRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – A federal grand jury sitting in Pocatello returned a six-count indictment on February 27, 2024, charging Jerrod Randall Farr, 52, and Michael Timothy Scott, 67, both of Challis, with Lacy Act violations, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
Farr, a licensed outfitter (White Cloud Outfitters) and licensed guide, was indicted on five counts: two counts of Lacy Act violations, two counts of providing false or fictitious information to a Forest Service officer, and one count of conducting work activity without a special-use authorization. Scott, a former licensed outfitter (White Cloud Outfitters) and current licensed guide, was indicted on two counts of Lacey Act violations.
According to court records, the six-count indictment returned yesterday alleges that on two occasions (once in 2020, and once in 2022), Farr, owner and outfitter for White Cloud Outfitters, sold and facilitated Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep hunts that occurred in an area of the Salmon-Challis National Forest that is closed to commercial guiding, and Scott, as a guide for White Cloud Outfitters, illegally guided those hunts. The indictment further alleges that Farr submitted a mandatory outfitter report to account for all White Cloud Outfitter activity on the National Forest in 2020, and falsely omitted information regarding the 2020, Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep hunt. The indictment also alleges that on one occasion in 2022, Farr, as outfitter and guide, facilitated and guided a donated mountain lion hunt that involved releasing hunting hounds in the same area of the Salmon-Challis National Forest that is closed to commercial guiding. Farr submitted a mandatory outfitter report to account for all White Cloud Outfitter activity on the National Forest in 2022, and falsely omitted information regarding the 2022, donated mountain lion hunt.
Farr and Scott are both scheduled for their initial court appearances on March 21, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah K. Grasham. Two of the alleged Lacey violations are punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to 1 year of supervised release. One of the alleged Lacey Act violations is punishable by up to 1 year in federal prison, a maximum fine of $100,000, and up to 1 year of supervised release. Providing false or fictitious information to a Forest Service officer is punishable by up to 6 months in federal prison and a maximum fine of $5,000. Conducting work activity without a special-use authorization is punishable by up to 6 months in federal prison and a maximum fine of $5,000. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence for the defendants after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, United States Forest Service, and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett is prosecuting this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit Releases Information on Efforts to Protect Voting Rights and to Secure ElectionsRead the Press Release
BOISE – Today, in advance of this year’s federal election cycle, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit is providing information about his Office’s efforts to ensure that all qualified voters have the opportunity to vote free of violence, intimidation, discrimination, and other criminal activity in the election process.
Consistent with Department of Justice (DOJ) practices across the country, multiple Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) from around Idaho have been appointed to lead the efforts of his Office to ensure a safe, free, and fair election.
DOJ has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. DOJ will address these violations wherever they occur.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
Federal law also requires that people with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote, and DOJ’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Checklist for Polling Places (www.ada.gov/votingchecklist.htm) provides guidance to election officials for determining whether a polling place already has the basic accessibility features needed by most voters with disabilities or can be made accessible using temporary solutions. Additionally, DOJ has published Solutions for Five Common ADA Access Problems at Polling Places, available at this link: (https://www.ada.gov/resources/solutions-voting-problems/). Additional information is available on DOJ’s website (https://www.ada.gov/topics/voting/).
“The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy,” U.S. Attorney Hurwit stated. “We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. We will be prepared to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election cycle.”
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho can be reached at (208) 334-1211. The FBI will also have special agents available in throughout the country to receive allegations of threats of violence and other election abuses related to voting. The Salt Lake City FBI field office, which covers Idaho, can be reached by the public at (801) 579-1400.
In addition, complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at (800) 253-3931 or by complaint form on DOJ’s website (https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/).
Finally, individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call DOJ’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY), or submit a complaint through a link on DOJ’s ADA website (https://www.ada.gov/file-a-complaint/).
U.S. Attorney Hurwit said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud report it to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, that complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation should always be reported immediately to local authorities by calling 911. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
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Four Co-Conspirators Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in the Magic ValleyRead the Press Release
BOISE – Four members of a drug trafficking conspiracy were recently sentenced to federal prison for distributing large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Idaho, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, beginning in March 2023, Idaho State Police detectives working in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), learned about a drug trafficking organization that was distributing large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Magic Valley. Using an undercover officer, detectives infiltrated the organization and began receiving drugs in exchange for cash payments. On April 27, 2023, Jamie Lee Coltrin, 35, of Rupert, met with an undercover officer at a gas station parking lot in Heyburn. Coltrin gave the officer 1,000 fentanyl pills in exchange for $4,500 that the officer agreed to deposit in a co-conspirator’s bank account. Then, on May 24, 2023, the undercover officer met with Jenika Ann Johnson, 30, of Pocatello, and again received 1,000 fentanyl pills in exchange for $4,000.
As the investigation continued, the detectives were able to identify additional members of the organization. On June 12, 2023, detectives observed Tina Jane Morris, 45, of Pocatello, meet with a co-conspirator at a gas station parking lot in Jerome and complete a drug transaction. Police later stopped Morris’ vehicle as she traveled east on I-86 near Power County. A search of her vehicle revealed 11,216 fentanyl pills, two pounds of methamphetamine, and a 9mm handgun. The investigation revealed that Morris had just returned from the Mexico border where she obtained these drugs before bringing them to Idaho.
An additional drug transaction was planned for July 6, 2023, with Daniel Ross Coltrin, 39, of Paul, Idaho. Coltrin was stopped by police prior to the transaction and was found in possession of $5,600 that he planned to use to purchase 1,250 fentanyl pills. Coltrin intended to distribute these pills into the community.
On February 20, 2024, U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford sentenced Tina Morris to 97 months in federal prison and Jamie Coltrin to 48 months in prison. The following day, Judge Brailsford sentenced Jenika Johnson and Daniel Coltrin to 48 months and 25 months in prison respectively. All four sentences are to be followed by three years of supervised release.
“These prosecutions reflect that the people of Idaho will not tolerate drug traffickers bringing their poisons into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “The backbone of our counter-drugs program is the partnership at the federal, state, and local level, and this holds true in the Magic Valley, where our teamwork is making a difference.”
“DEA and our partners will work tirelessly to stop drug traffickers from flooding our communities with drugs and violence,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The sentences in this case highlight the serious threat fentanyl and methamphetamine traffickers pose as well as our commitment to stop them.”
“Law enforcement agencies across jurisdictions are joining forces to combat the proliferation of illicit drugs within our communities,” said Idaho State Police Lieutenant Colonel Sheldon Kelley. “Through unwavering collaboration, we will work tirelessly to dismantle the networks responsible for distributing drugs throughout Idaho. By disrupting these operations, we not only uphold the law but also prioritize the safety and well-being of our citizens, ensuring our streets remain free from the harmful influence of drugs.”
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the Idaho State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minidoka County Sheriff’s Office and the Cassia County Sheriff’s Office as part of the Mini-Cassia Drug Task Force, the Twin Falls Police Department Special Investigations Unit, the Jerome County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and the Pocatello Police Department, for their work on these cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Booker and Francis Zebari prosecuted these cases.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Garden City Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOISE – Vincent Porter, 32, of Garden City, Idaho, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, the investigation began when a citizen reported to the Garden City Police Department (GCPD) that she had located concerning videos on a cellphone Porter had been accessing. The witness reported that the videos showed Porter setting up a camera and surreptitiously recording the 10-year-old victim.
GCPD obtained a search warrant for Porter’s cloud storage. Within the account, GCPD located two videos that Porter had recorded of the victim. The videos showed Porter setting up a camera in the bathroom to record the victim undressing and showering. GCPD also examined Porter’s cellphone pursuant to a search warrant. On the cellphone, GCPD located an additional explicit video Porter had recorded of the victim. Porter was previously convicted in Ada County of sexual battery of a minor 16 or 17 years of age.
“The defendant in this case is a sex offender who was paroled from a state sentence only to begin victimizing a 10-year-old girl within a couple years,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “This case shows the effectiveness of federal prosecution as this defendant will now serve decades behind bars with no possibility of parole. I am grateful for the prosecutors in my office and our law enforcement colleagues who dedicate their careers to keeping Idaho’s children safe by removing child predators from our communities.”
“The Garden City Police Department is happy to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to take predators like this off the street,” said Garden City Police Chief Cory Stambaugh. “We appreciate the partnership in keeping our community safer. I applaud the hard work of the investigators and prosecutors on this case.”
“It is through cooperation like this among area law enforcement and our federal partners that makes the Treasure Valley such a safe place to raise a family,” said Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea.
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also sentenced Porter to a lifetime of supervised release. Porter will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the Garden City Police Department, the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Meridian Police Department, which led to the charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kassandra McGrady prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Elderly Ontario Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine in IdahoRead the Press Release
BOISE – Efren Avilez-Lopez, 81, and Maria Medina-Zeveda, 70, husband and wife, and both Mexican nationals illegally living in Ontario, Oregon, were sentenced for trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine in Idaho, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
On February 12, 2024, Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Avilez-Lopez to nine years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On February 13, 2024, Chief Judge Nye sentenced Medina-Zeveda to 37 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Both Avilez-Lopez and Medina-Zeveda were ordered to serve three years of supervised release. Both will be deported after completing their sentences.
According to court records, on April 15, 2023, Avilez-Lopez and Medina-Zeveda sold an undercover officer five pounds of methamphetamine in a Nampa store parking lot. On April 25, 2023, they both sold an undercover officer 20 pounds of methamphetamine in a Nampa store parking lot.
Then on May 12, 2023, Avilez-Lopez and Medina-Zeveda drove from Ontario to Los Angeles, to pick up a large load of methamphetamine. On their way home, they were stopped by law enforcement in Owyhee County, where it was discovered they were transporting four family members, including a minor child. A dog, which was trained and certified to detect the odor of illegal drugs, alerted on the vehicle and when officers searched the vehicle, they located twenty-one pounds of methamphetamine in the floorboards.
“These defendants were a driving force behind a significant drug trafficking organization that, thanks to law enforcement, has been dismantled,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “While it is not common for us to find drug traffickers at this stage of life, make no mistake: these defendants earned their sentences. We will continue to do our part to ensure that justice is applied fairly and equitably to all, regardless of age or background.”
“The drug threat can come from anywhere and is not restricted to any age or demographic, as this case dramatically illustrates,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Whether these criminals are old or young, the Drug Enforcement Administration and our partners will relentlessly pursue those who poison our communities with methamphetamine or other dangerous drugs.”
“Strong partnerships between local, state, and federal law enforcement is key to bringing successful conclusions to cases like this,” said Nampa Police Chief Joe Huff. “We are proud of the teamwork being done across jurisdictions to combat drug crime.”
“I am proud of our continued partnership and collaboration with our law enforcement partners, which ultimately led to this successful operation,” said Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram.
“This case highlights the incredible working relationships among our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners in and around the Treasure Valley,” said Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue. “It also shows that the illicit drug trade — inherently operated by Transcontinental Criminal Organizations like the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartels — knows no bounds. These individuals are not what the average person would think of when they hear the term drug dealer. This was a couple in their 70s and 80s who bought and sold extremely high quantities of methamphetamine, endangering countless lives, including those of their own family.”
“By working together, law enforcement agencies across jurisdictions continue joining forces to combat illicit drugs in our communities. Embodying the principles of "Esto Perpetua," our collaborative efforts relentlessly strive to dismantle the networks responsible for distributing drugs throughout Idaho. We are not only upholding the law but safeguarding the well-being of our citizens,” said Idaho State Police Major Russ Wheatley.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Nampa Police Department, the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Probation and Parole, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, the Caldwell Police Department, the City-County Narcotics Unit, the Idaho State Police, the Oregon State Police, the Ontario Police Department, the Owyhee County Prosecutor’s Office, and the High Desert Drug Task Force in Oregon. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Nafzger prosecuted the case. U.S. Attorney Hurwit expressed his gratitude to each of the law enforcement agencies for their efforts on this case who achieved justice through their hard work.
The High Desert Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-supported approach. They are supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Drug Traffickers in Eastern Idaho Receive Federal Prison SentencesRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Jeniffer Daniel Borchert, 30, of Pocatello, Amy Nacona Jagneaux, 48, also of Pocatello, and Joel Santos, 29, of Idaho Falls, were sentenced in separate cases for federal drug crimes involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, and firearms, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
On February 5, 2024, Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Borchert to five years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. After serving her prison sentence, Borchert will be placed on supervised release for three years.
According to court records, Borchert, was arrested by detectives with the BADGES Task Force who conducted an operation during the summer of 2022 in which Borchert sold fentanyl pills to undercover law enforcement on multiple occasions.
In a separate case, on February 6, 2024, Chief Judge Nye sentenced Jagnueax to five years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine. After her prison term, Jagneaux will be placed on supervised release for eight years. She received double the term of supervised release than is normally required because she sold dangerous drugs within 1,000 feet of a public high school.
According to court records, Jagneaux, was arrested at an auto shop located across the street from Pocatello High School. In February 2022, detectives with the BAGES Task Force purchased a half a pound of methamphetamine from Jagneaux at the auto shop that she owned in downtown Pocatello. The purchase was followed by further investigation that led to the execution of a search warrant at the auto shop in September 2022. During the search, law enforcement located methamphetamine and approximately 25 firearms, four of which had been reported stolen.
In a third case, on February 6, 2024, Chief Judge Nye sentenced Santos to five and half years in federal prison to be followed by a term of supervised release for three years for unlawful possession of a firearm. Santos received an enhanced sentence for prohibited possession of a firearm in connection with distribution amounts of methamphetamine.
According to court records, Santos was the passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for expired registration. Santos was asked to step out of the car and subsequently fled on foot. An officer with the Idaho Falls Police Department chased Santos and eventually apprehended him and located a firearm that Santos threw while he was running away. Officers also located a bindle containing four ounces of methamphetamine near the discarded firearm. Santos was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction. Santos has also previously been documented by the Idaho Falls Police Department as an active gang member.
“These cases reflect the strong partnership between our office and our local law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “This series of cases not only makes Eastern Idaho safer, but it also shows our commitment to bringing to justice anyone else tempted to sell poisonous drugs or illegally possess firearms in Idaho.”
U.S. Attorney Hurwit thanked the Pocatello Police Department, the Idaho State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, and the Chubbuck Police Department which participated as part of the BAGES Task Force, and the Idaho Falls Police Department for their investigations in these cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe McLane, who was the Eastern Idaho Partnership Special Assistant U.S. Attorney at the time of charging, prosecuted these three cases.
The BADGES Task Force is a collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that focuses primarily on drug trafficking crimes in Bannock County and throughout the region.
The EIP is a coalition of local city and county officials in eastern Idaho as well as the Idaho Department of Correction. The EIP SAUSA program allows law enforcement to utilize the federal criminal justice system – through the EIP SAUSA – to prosecute, convict, and sentence violent, armed criminals and drug traffickers. These criminals often receive stiffer penalties than they might in state courts.
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Three Individuals Sentenced for $3.5M COVID-19 Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOISE – Three defendants were sentenced yesterday for fraudulently obtaining and misusing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that were issued by a Boise financial institution and that were guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. The defendants’ conduct was part of larger COVID-19 fraud ring.
Khadijah X. Chapman, 59, of Atlanta, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison; Daniel C. Labrum, 42, of South Jordan, Utah, was sentenced to two years in prison; and Eric J. O’Neil, 58, of Bethel, Connecticut, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Chapman, Labrum, and O’Neil fraudulently obtained PPP loans for fictitious businesses in 2020 and 2021. The defendants worked with co‑conspirators to falsify information and submitted fraudulent documents to financial institutions in Boise and elsewhere to collectively obtain approximately $3.5 million in relief funding intended for small businesses struggling with the economic impact of COVID-19.
Chapman was convicted after a jury trial in November 2023 of bank fraud. Labrum and O’Neil pleaded guilty in 2023 to bank fraud.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Thomas M. Fattorusso of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI) New York, Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Special Agent in Charge Matthew Miraglia of the FBI Buffalo Field Office, Inspector General Gail S. Ennis of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Sharon B. MacDermott of SSA-OIG, and Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Boston Division joined U.S. Attorney Hurwit in making the announcement.
IRS:CI, the FBI, SSA-OIG, and USPIS investigated the cases.
Trial Attorneys Jennifer Bilinkas and Tamara Livshiz of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol for the District of Idaho prosecuted the cases.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Two East Idaho Men Each Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Sex Crimes Against a Minor ChildRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced the outcomes in two separate East Idaho cases in which the defendants were sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for attempted sex crimes against a minor child.
“These cases demonstrate that child predators will find no refuge in Idaho,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Instead, they will find justice and a ticket to federal prison. My office is fortunate to work with law enforcement across the state who spare no effort in tracking down these criminals. And we will continue to prosecute these offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”
On February 2, 2024, Lawrence Osborn, 44, of Soda Springs, was sentenced to ten years in prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. According to court records, on February 24, 2023, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in San Angelo, Texas, conducted an online undercover operation to identify adults engaged in sexually predatory behavior towards children. During the operation, Osborn engaged in online chat communications with one of the undercover HSI agents who was posing as a mother with a 7-year-old daughter. In those communications, Osborn proposed that the mother travel from Texas to Idaho so that Osborn could sexually abuse the 7-year-old child. Osborn offered the mother money and travel accommodations to facilitate the sexual abuse of the 7-year-old. On March 3, Osborn arrived at a grocery store in Soda Springs with the intention of meeting the mother and 7-year-old, and he was arrested.
“Fortunately, Osborn was talking to an undercover agent and not a real parent or child,” said Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “This case highlights the collective efforts of law enforcement to protect society’s most vulnerable and hold child predators accountable.”
“Internet crime knows no border or boundaries, and in this instance our joint law enforcement partnerships were able to stop this Idaho based child predator from finding victims wherever his disgusting impulses may have led him,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “This sentence helps to keep our communities, both virtual and throughout Idaho, safe from those who would prey upon children.”
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered that Osborn be placed on supervised release for ten years following his prison sentence. Osborn pleaded guilty to the charge on September 14, 2023.
In a separate case, Nathan Mark Law, 49, of Idaho Falls was also sentenced to ten years in prison on February 5, 2024. According to court records, between July and September 2022, the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force found that Law had downloaded thousands of images of child pornography also known as, “child sexual abuse material” (CSAM) over the internet. Investigators executed a search warrant of Law’s residence where they discovered CSAM on Law’s electronic devices. Law admitted not only that he downloaded CSAM but also that he had hidden a camera in his camp trailer bathroom and captured images of a minor female using the shower. Law also admitted to sharing CSAM including the images he produced with another Idaho Falls man, Che Miles. Miles was sentenced to 136 months in federal prison in September.
“This is the level of evil that we fight against – a man who would seek to create pornographic images of children,” said Attorney General Raúl Labrador, who oversees the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force for Idaho. “We cannot pretend it doesn’t happen in our communities. This kind of exploitation must be stopped at every turn. These cases are a cooperative effort and I’m grateful for everyone involved in these successful prosecutions. The stakes could not be higher when it comes to putting those that prey on Idaho’s children behind bars.”
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Law to 120 months in federal prison followed by ten years of supervised release. Law pleaded guilty to attempted sexual exploitation of a minor child on June 26, 2023.
The Osborn case was investigated by HSI in Idaho Falls, in conjunction with HSI in Dallas and San Angelo, with assistance from the Idaho State Police, the United States Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Soda Springs Police Department. The Law and Miles cases were investigated by the Idaho ICAC Task Force, HSI in Idaho Falls, the Idaho Falls Police Department, and the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett prosecuted these cases.
These case were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Three Individuals Sentenced for $3.5M COVID-19 Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Three people were sentenced today for fraudulently obtaining and misusing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that the U.S. Small Business Administration guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in connection with their involvement in a COVID-19 fraud ring.
Khadijah X. Chapman, 59, of Atlanta, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison; Daniel C. Labrum, 42, of South Jordan, Utah, was sentenced to two years in prison; and Eric J. O’Neil, 58, of Bethel, Connecticut, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Chapman, Labrum, and O’Neil fraudulently obtained PPP loans for fictitious businesses in 2020 and 2021. The defendants worked with co‑conspirators to falsify information and submitted fraudulent documents to financial institutions in Boise and elsewhere to collectively obtain approximately $3.5 million in relief funding intended for small businesses struggling with the economic impact of COVID-19.
Chapman was convicted in November 2023 of bank fraud. Labrum and O’Neil pleaded guilty in 2023 to bank fraud.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit for the District of Idaho, Special Agent in Charge Thomas M. Fattorusso of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI) New York, Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Special Agent in Charge Matthew Miraglia of the FBI Buffalo Field Office, Inspector General Gail S. Ennis of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Sharon B. MacDermott of SSA-OIG, and Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Boston Division made the announcement.
IRS:CI, the FBI, SSA-OIG, and USPIS investigated the cases.
Trial Attorneys Jennifer Bilinkas and Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol for the District of Idaho prosecuted the cases.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Post Falls Man Sentenced for Fraud Related to Unemployment Insurance BenefitsRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Jimmy Winebrenner, 79, of Post Falls, was sentenced for using or trafficking in unauthorized access devices in relation to an unemployment insurance scheme, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, in Spring 2020, Winebrenner began receiving unemployment benefits cards in the mail from various state agencies, including cards from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR). The unemployment benefit cards were debit cards and preloaded with unemployment benefit funds issued in other persons’ names. Winebrenner was specifically sentenced for using a debit card issued in another person’s name and obtaining $14,830 at an ATM in Coeur d’Alene from the debit card. Winebrenner did so with the intent to defraud. Between July and August 2020, Winebrenner obtained $81,180 from Nevada DETR debit cards issued in other persons’ names.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Winebrenner to serve five years of probation, and to pay restitution in the amount of $81,180 to the Nevada DETR.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the United States Postal Inspection Service for its investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol prosecuted the case.
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Caldwell Man is Sentenced to 20 years for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOISE – Rigoverto Hernandez, 31, of Caldwell, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, on April 4, 2023, officers with the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force executed a search warrant at an AirBnB where Hernandez was staying. During the search, Hernandez was found in possession of 19,900 fentanyl pills, 13.5 pounds of methamphetamine, and three firearms. Hernandez was prohibited from possessing firearms due to several prior felony convictions.
Hernandez has a criminal history that includes felony convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm, burglary, and possession of a controlled substance. According to Hernandez, he grew up around a significant amount of gang violence, which lead him to join a local gang. Although Hernandez admitted he was a gang member, he contends he dropped out of the gang in 2014.
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Hernandez to serve 5 years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Hernandez pleaded guilty to the federal charge in November of 2023.
“The quantity of fentanyl pills in this case could have killed thousands of Idahoans, and I am grateful to law enforcement for its successful investigation,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “We will continue to work hand-in-hand with law enforcement to remove dangerous fentanyl dealers from our communities. They have no place here in Idaho.”
“Illicit synthetic drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine have destroyed countless lives, and Rigoverto Hernandez helped fuel this epidemic in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “His sentencing is the result of federal, state, and local partners working hand-in-hand to keep our communities safe.”
“I appreciate the hard work of our law enforcement partners that went into securing justice in this case,” said Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney Bryan Taylor. “It takes all of us to eradicate the wickedness of fentanyl in our community.”
“We are in a battle to protect our citizens from the onslaught of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs smuggled into the State of Idaho,” said Canyon County Sheriff Keiran Donahue. “The Transcontinental Criminal Organizations (TCO’s) capitalize on drug traffickers like Hernandez to sell these drugs on our streets, with a profit margin to the Cartels, in the hundreds of billions of dollars annually. It is cooperative, multi-agency investigative efforts like those of the Metro Violent Crime and Gang Task Force and our relationships with the United States Attorney’s Office that help remove these threats from our streets. I would hope the criminal element is paying attention. If you traffic poisonous and deadly drugs in Idaho, we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will send you to prison. That’s a promise.”
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force for its efforts in this case. The Task Force is comprised of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Caldwell Police Department, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho Department of Correction.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit also thanked the Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for its support of the investigation.
This 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.
This case was also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Press Release Video Statement
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects over $4.5 Million in Restitution for Victims, Criminal Fines, and Other Penalties in Fiscal Year 2023Read the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today that the office’s Financial Litigation Program, which is part of the Asset Recovery Division, collected over $3.5 million in criminal monetary penalties, which includes restitution, fines, and assessments, and in civil debts for the fiscal year that ended September 30, 2023. In some cases, the U.S. Attorney’s Office worked in conjunction with litigating components of the U.S. Department of Justice. Of the total collected, approximately $2 million were criminal restitution, fines, and/or assessments, and approximately $1.5 million were civil debts. In addition, the Asset Forfeiture Unit, the other part of the Asset Recovery Division, deposited to the Asset Forfeiture Fund approximately $1 million in proceeds and instruments of crime in criminal and civil forfeiture actions.
In fiscal year 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, through the Financial Litigation Program, collected approximately $1.9 million in criminal restitution that was or will be distributed to victims of crime. Other criminal collections such as fines go into the Crime Victims Fund. From there, funds are distributed to the Idaho Crime Victims Compensation Program, the Idaho Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance, and similar programs across the country. Money recovered from the illegal proceeds of criminal activity through forfeiture is returned to victims, used to offset the costs of operating federal prisons, and shared with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to help fight crime. Other recoveries go back to agency creditors.
“Our Asset Recovery Division works tirelessly to recover money for victims and recouping the ill-gotten gains of those convicted of federal crimes in Idaho,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “As taxpayers, we should all be proud of the outstanding work these dedicated public servants have done over the past year.”
As for civil debts and penalties, the Financial Litigation Program collects civil penalties for violations of regulations involving, among other things, controlled substances, environmental protection, damage to federal property, and procurement fraud. It also collects civil debts for defaulted loans from federal taxpayer-funded programs.
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Fort Hall Man Sentenced to over 21 Years in Federal Prison for Shooting and Killing Another ManRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Rydon Clyde Teton, 38, who is a member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, and a resident of Fort Hall, Idaho, was sentenced to 253 months in federal prison for the shooting death of another man in January 2018, on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, on February 2, 2018, the Fort Hall Police Department and the Fort Hall Fire Department were called to a residence on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation for a fire at a home. Witnesses said they saw a fire inside the home and entered to investigate. The witnesses found a deceased and burned body, which they moved to the porch, and they then called police. The fire was extinguished and the body was identified as that of the victim, who had been shot several times days earlier. The law enforcement investigation led to Teton, who reportedly had earlier been seen carrying a gun. Officers located Teton at a trailer park in Pocatello, where Teton’s gun was located. Teton was interviewed by Fort Hall police and FBI agents. Teton stated that he and the victim had an argument about a debit card. Teton said he and the victim struggled and Teton then had the idea to shoot the victim, which he did. He admitted later burning the body. He also admitted using his gun to commit this violent crime.
The 253-month sentence imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye is a combined sentence consisting of 133 months for the voluntary manslaughter charge and a consecutive 120 months for the use of the firearm in committing the killing. Chief Judge Nye ordered Teton to pay restitution in the amount of $68,339.11 for the victim’s funeral expenses and for his lost tribal income, which is to be paid to the victim’s minor child. Judge Nye also ordered Teton to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Judge Nye granted Teton 111 days of credit for the time he served in tribal jail on the same charge before coming into federal custody. He pleaded guilty to the charge of voluntary manslaughter and to a charge of the use of a firearm in a violent crime on August 16, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Hall Police Department, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Haycock prosecuted the case.
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AmeriHealth Clinics Consent to a $2 Million Judgment to Resolve Healthcare Fraud AllegationsRead the Press Release
BOISE – AmeriHealth and its owners, Ryan and Alban Hatch, consented to a $2 million judgment against them in U.S. District Court after admitting to violations of the False Claims Act, announced U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit today. The fraud scheme involved using vulnerable or inexperienced medical staff to submit or cause to be submitted false claims to federal health care programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare. Through the agreement to pay $2 million, the defendants also resolved, without admitting, additional allegations that they violated the Controlled Substances Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, and fraudulently obtained Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.
According to a Complaint filed by the United States in December 2023, AmeriHealth hired vulnerable, compromised, and inexperienced medical staff who were then pressured into providing unnecessary and worthless care, which resulted in false claims being submitted to federal health care programs. For example, owners Ryan and Alban Hatch ordered a hungover and impaired practitioner to provide medical care to unsuspecting patients. The Complaint also alleged that they pressured practitioners to prescribe controlled substances, entered into an unlawful kickback scheme with a third-party laboratory, and falsely certified information in order to obtain forgiveness of a PPP loan worth more than $750,000.
“Fighting health care fraud is about ensuring safety for patients and families as well as protecting taxpayer funds,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “That’s why health care fraud enforcement has been, and will continue to be, a priority for my office. We will not tolerate individuals and companies sacrificing public safety through fraudulent schemes or illegal practices.”
“Providers who cheat federal health care programs and put financial gain before the needs of patients must be rooted out at every turn,” said Steven J. Ryan, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to address this kind of abuse, and will not stop protecting American patients, communities, and taxpayers from such conduct.”
“This settlement demonstrates that OIG will bring individuals to justice that knowingly provided false information to gain access to the Paycheck Protection Program and subsequent loan forgiveness,” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King. “I want to thank the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners for their collaboration, support, and pursuit of justice for taxpayers.”
This matter was investigated jointly by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, the Small Business Administration, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Additional assistance was provided by the Idaho Board of Pharmacy, the Idaho State Department of Health and Welfare, and the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.
For additional case information and publicly available court documents, see United States v. Hatch, et. al., 23-CV-00566-DKG (U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho).
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Husband and Wife Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud and Obstruction of Justice Relating to Defrauding an Elderly Victim Out of Her HomeRead the Press Release
BOISE – James Dougherty, 43, of Boise, pleaded guilty to wire fraud involving a scheme to defraud an elderly victim of money and real property. His wife, Jessica Dougherty, 42, also of Boise, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, in early 2015, James Dougherty and his wife, Jessica Dougherty, moved into a building on the victim’s 46-acre ranch in Boise to ostensibly provide the victim with assistance with her ranch and horses in exchange for free rent. Prior to 2015, the victim, a retired elementary schoolteacher, lived independently on her ranch and enjoyed a comfortable retirement.
In late 2015, the victim’s health deteriorated. During that time, James Dougherty gained control of the victim’s finances, including being named as the victim’s power-of-attorney for finances. A trust was executed, ostensibly signed by the victim, naming James and Jessica Dougherty as primary beneficiaries of the victim’s estate, including the ranch, and naming James Dougherty as successor trustee.
Shortly thereafter, in December 2015, the victim’s ranch was transferred from the victim to the newly formed trust benefitting the Doughertys. In March 2016, the victim was then declared incapacitated by two doctors, and James Dougherty was appointed sole trustee of the trust.
In 2015 and 2016, James Dougherty began to access, use, and transfer funds from the victim’s banking and financial accounts for his own personal use, benefit, and ownership. In fact, James Dougherty used the victim’s funds without her knowledge or consent to pay his and Jessica Dougherty’s creditors to rehabilitate their credit and qualify for a mortgage to ultimately transfer the victim’s ranch into the Doughertys’ personal names.
In July 2017, James and Jessica Dougherty entered into an agreement to purchase the ranch from the trust, executed by James Dougherty, as trustee. The victim was not involved in the transactions. James Dougherty as trustee sold the ranch to himself and Jessica Dougherty, signed as both the “Buyer” and as the “Seller” on the purchase and sale agreement, for less than the market value.
James Dougherty did not place the ranch for sale on the public market and the purchase price he paid simply represented the amount to clear the existing debt on the ranch. According to the Ada County Assessor, however, the value of the ranch at the time was approximately twice the amount of the purchase price.
The sale of the ranch to James and Jessica Dougherty was a breach of fiduciary duty under the trust and James Dougherty admitted he acted with the intent to defraud.
After James and Jessica were arrested in August 2022, and while in pretrial custody, Jessica Dougherty made a call from the Ada County jail and requested that an individual “flash” or “reset” a Dell laptop computer located at the ranch. Within hours, an individual followed Jessica Dougherty’s request and records relevant to the investigation involving the victim were permanently destroyed from the Dell laptop computer.
Jessica Dougherty admitted to knowingly causing the destruction of the records with the intent to obstruct the Department of Justice’s investigation.
James and Jessica Dougherty are scheduled to be sentenced on April 2, 2024, and they both face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“Defrauding an elderly victim out of her home is a reprehensible crime,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “We must treat elders with the decency and respect that they deserve, and our Office will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who defraud elderly victims.”
“As a community, it is our responsibility to care for our elders. As a law enforcement community, it is our duty to hold individuals accountable who abuse their position of trust and steal from the elderly,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Special Agent in Charge, Todd Martin.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the Ada County Sherriff’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Division, and the Office of Inspector General of Health and Human Services, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Mazorol and Brittney Campbell are prosecuting the case.
Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. The mission of the Department’s Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s seniors. To learn more visit https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. The public is encouraged to report their victimization and suspected fraud schemes. To find the right reporting agency visit https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/roadmap or call the victim connect hotline at 1-855-484-2846.
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On #WearBlueDay, U.S. Attorney Hurwit Releases PSA to Raise Awareness for Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
BOISE – Today, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, released a public service announcement, available here, in recognition of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The PSA aims to raise awareness about the somber reality of human trafficking and highlight the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to putting an end to this serious crime that violates the most basic of human rights.
Human trafficking is the exploitation of human beings for profit. It can occur as a form of forced labor, domestic servitude, or sex trafficking of children and adults, and has no place in any society. “That’s why in January and throughout the year, my Office’s dedicated prosecutors, our victim advocates, and our entire staff work with our law enforcement partners to prevent human trafficking and bring offenders to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit.
“Unfortunately, human trafficking continues to be a serious, global problem that impacts the
United States and our communities, even here in Idaho,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Together we can end human trafficking. Please take time to learn how to identify and respond to people who are at risk or who have experienced human trafficking.”
If you or someone you know has experienced human trafficking, help is available. The National Human Trafficking Hotline provides free, confidential help, 24/7. Call: 1-888-373-7888; Text: HELP to 233733 (BEFREE); or Chat: humantraffickinghotline.org/chat.
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Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to Nearly 12 YearsRead the Press Release
BOISE – Peter Timothy Eromenok, 34, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced to nearly 12 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, Eromenok was interviewed by investigators on May 9, 2022, about suspected fentanyl left behind at an Airbnb. During his interview, he admitted to possessing between 10,000 and 15,000 fentanyl pills in his room at a relative’s house in New Plymouth, Idaho. Investigators searched this residence and found 1,419 grams of fentanyl in pill form (approximately 14,000 fentanyl pills) and more than a half-pound of cocaine.
On May 24, 2022, investigators again encountered Eromenok and found 71.1 grams of fentanyl in pill form (approximately 710 fentanyl pills) and 35.2 grams of methamphetamine in his vehicle.
“Unfortunately, we are seeing significant amounts of fentanyl on our streets and, in this case, left dangerously behind in an Airbnb,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “But we are also seeing law enforcement rise to the challenge and seize larger and larger amounts of fentanyl. And we stand ready to bring to justice anyone who would distribute this poisonous drug in Idaho.”
On January 9, 2024, Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Eromenok to 140 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigations by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Nampa Police Department, and the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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U.S. Attorney Hurwit and Law Enforcement Partners Jointly Release Public Service Announcement in Recognition of Law Enforcement Appreciation DayRead the Press Release
BOISE – Today, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, along with the Idaho Sheriffs Association, the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association, the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police, and the Idaho State Police, released a public service announcement, available here, in recognition of Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. The PSA highlights the wonderful collaboration that Idaho’s law enforcement community enjoys with each other and the impact that community support has on law enforcement as a whole. This PSA showcases Idaho’s natural beauty and the peace and prosperity of its communities. A short version of the PSA is available here.
City Pocatello Police Chief Roger Schei (Past President of the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association President), Clearwater County Sheriff Chris Goetz (President of the Idaho Sheriffs Association), Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police Chief Sam Abrahamson, and Idaho State Police Director Colonel Kedrick Wills, and U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit participated in the filming of this PSA. Together, they highlight the strong law enforcement partnerships in Idaho and law enforcement’s commitment to keeping Idaho a safe and wonderful place to call home or visit.
“Like our state, Idaho law enforcement is strong,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “But we all share in the responsibility of creating safe and supportive communities. So we invite you to be a part of our team by respecting and supporting our officers in uniform. Together we will ensure that Idaho continues to offer peace and tranquility for all.”
"Law enforcement partnerships in Idaho are the bedrock of our commitment to ensuring that the Gem State remains safe for everyone,” said Colonel Kedrick Wills, Director of the Idaho State Police. “The collaboration between agencies reflects our collective dedication to upholding the values of safety, security, and community well-being."
U.S. Attorney Hurwit expressed his gratitude to all the law enforcement agencies who partnered in sharing this message and to law enforcement throughout the entire state who are committed to safeguarding our comminutes and achieving justice through their hard work and professionalism.
If you have a tip or information about crime in your community, please visit FBI.gov or contact local law enforcement in your community.
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Pocatello Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Joshua Christopher Tompkins, 35, of Pocatello, was sentenced to 140 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also sentenced Tompkins to serve 15 years of supervised release following his prison term.
According to court records, in July 2022, the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force found that an electronic device with an IP address associated with Tompkins had downloaded thousands of images of child pornography. In December 2022, investigators obtained and executed a search warrant at Tompkins’s residence where they seized several electronic devices belonging to him. Upon searching Tompkins’s electronic devices, investigators discovered the thousands of illicit images that Tompkins downloaded from the internet.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigation by the Idaho ICAC Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations in Idaho Falls, the Idaho Falls Police Department, and the Pocatello Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Payette Man Sentenced to over 7.5 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOISE – Joel J. Martinez, 35, of Payette, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, the investigation began when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received numerous CyberTips from Google. A CyberTip is a report submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). NCMEC gathers leads and tips regarding suspected online crimes against children and forwards them to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. HSI determined that Google accounts, later identified as belonging to Martinez, had uploaded child pornography.
HSI obtained a search warrant for the contents of the Google accounts and located over 200 videos of child pornography within the accounts. HSI later executed a federal search warrant at Martinez’s residence in Payette. HSI seized several cellphones and a SD card belonging to Martinez. HSI located additional files of child pornography on the devices. During an interview, Martinez admitted to downloading and viewing child pornography and to paying for access to a website that contained child pornography.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also sentenced Martinez to 10 years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $3,000 in restitution to a victim in the images he possessed. Martinez will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction.
“Protecting our children from internet predators is, and must be, a priority for both the government and internet service providers,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “CyberTips like the one that led to this conviction exemplify the value of public/private cooperation. My Office will continue to prioritize these prosecutions and hold accountable those who would exploit children.”
“In safeguarding our community, we stand united against those who exploit innocence. Martinez's sentencing is a testament to the resilience of collaboration, reminding us that protecting our children is not just a duty, but a shared commitment to their well-being and the strength of our community bonds,” said Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “HSI is proud to work closely with the Idaho ICAC team along with the Payette Police Department to effect this judgement.”
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of HSI, the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Payette Police Department, which led to the charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kassandra McGrady prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Fort Hall Man Sentenced for Assault with a MacheteRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Cody Ray Preacher, 30, of Fort Hall, was sentenced to 51 ½ months in federal prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, on August 15, 2022, Preacher attacked a woman at a residence on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, causing serious bodily injury. Fort Hall police officers and an ambulance crew discovered the victim after receiving a call about a woman covered in blood walking down a street on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. The woman was taken to the hospital for serious injuries to her knee and hand, which required surgery. At the hospital, the woman stated that she had been attacked at a residence and that her attacker was Preacher. A witness stated that Preacher told the victim to clean his house, and when she refused, Preacher struck the victim with a machete, with crutches, and with his hands.
The 51 ½ month sentence imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye was in addition to the 5 ½ months that Preacher had already served in the tribal jail based upon the same conduct, resulting in a total of 57 months incarceration. Judge Nye also ordered Preacher to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Preacher pleaded guilty to the charge on September 26, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Hall Police Department, which led to charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Haycock prosecuted the case.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Three FirearmsRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Robert Michael Davis, 32, formerly of Sandpoint, was sentenced to over three years in federal prison for unlawful possession of three firearms by a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, Davis was initially arrested on a parole warrant. Officers with the Idaho Falls Police Department attempted to contact Davis to request that he move his car that was blocking snow removal equipment. Davis ran from officers and was apprehended after a short chase. He was identified and officers learned that he was on parole with the Idaho Department of Correction. Davis told the officers that firearms would be found in his car. He admitted that he was a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing guns. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and located drug paraphernalia, three rifles, ammunition, and a silencer.
On December 19, 2023, Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Davis to 39 months in federal prison. Davis was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after his prison sentence is complete.
“Part of our public safety mission is enforcing the law that prohibits dangerous felons from possessing firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “I am proud of the work that our prosecutors and law enforcement partners do every day to keep our streets safe as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.”
“This sentence holds Davis accountable for his illegal weapons activity,” said Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “We’re grateful for the collaboration with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in Idaho to sentence convicted felons with weapons in the interest of community safety.”
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the Idaho Falls Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Idaho Falls, who investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe McLane prosecuted this case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and State and Local Law Enforcement Officials Release Fourth “Don’t Click December” PSARead the Press Release
BOISE – During the holiday season, online criminals increasingly target Idahoans through online scams and fraud schemes. Today, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, along with the FBI, the Idaho State Police, the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, the Boise Police Department, the Meridian Police Department, and the Garden City Police Department, released a fourth PSA as part of their joint “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign. The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, AARP Idaho, and the Better Business Bureau also participated in the announcement.
The campaign advises members of the public to exercise skepticism and caution when receiving unsolicited online, email, pop-up, or text communications from unknown or unverified sources. If there is any doubt about a link, message, or attachment, law enforcement cautions: “don’t click it.”
In the fourth and final PSA, available here, Ada County Sheriff Matt Clifford, FBI Supervisory Special Agent David Bodily, and U.S. Attorney Hurwit warn the public about the “phantom hacker” scam and explain some of the ways in which individuals can protect themselves.
The "phantom hacker” scam is a relatively new scheme that is particularly complex and devious. First, scammers send unsolicited messages by phone, email, text, or pop-up pretending to be “tech support,” and asking you to provide access to your computer so software can be updated to thwart hackers. But once the scammers access to your computer, they instead install software to steal your financial information. Then they send messages pretending to be your financial institution, saying that your accounts have been hacked and you need to move your money to a third-party account for “safety.” Sometimes the scammers even pretend to be the government or law enforcement and send messages that your money is still unsafe and needs to be moved to a new “alias” account.
This scam draws victims in using entities you typically trust: Like tech support, financial institutions, and law enforcement. Each step builds the scam to bilk people out of thousands of dollars.
Don’t click it. Protect yourself from the “phantom hacker” scam: do not click on unsolicited pop-ups, links sent via text messages, email links, or attachments. Do not contact the telephone number provided in a pop-up, text, or email. Do not download software at the request of an unknown individual who contacted you. Do not allow an unknown individual who contacted you to have control of your computer. Remember, the Government will never ask you to send money via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.
This four-part series of PSAs, released in the weeks leading up to Christmas, is an effort to alert the public to common online fraud schemes that Idaho law enforcement has seen affect Idahoans.
Unfortunately, these are not the only schemes affecting the public, and new schemes arise all the time. Law enforcement hopes that the “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign will raise public awareness and encourage individuals to talk to their friends and relatives about not clicking suspicious links, texts, messages, pop-ups, or attachments.
“Everyday Idahoans are targeted by online scammers, and this activity spikes during the holidays in December,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “But we are not helpless. Through our Don’t Click December videos, we point out some of the red flags that individuals can spot to protect themselves and their loved ones. And we also want to encourage people to report online scams to law enforcement so that we can recover lost money and hold the perpetrators accountable. We are all in this together.”
“Last year, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received 800,944 complaints about suspected internet crimes. That’s more than 2,000 complaints every single day,” said David Bodily, Supervisory Special Agent of the Salt Lake City FBI’s Boise Resident Agency. “As cyber scams continue to increase in scope and sophistication, it’s important that law enforcement and the public work together to stay ahead of the risks.”
“When people on the internet ask you for any kind of information, our advice is to stop and think – why are they asking? Does it make sense?” said Ada County Sheriff Matt Clifford. “Just pausing for a beat and doing some critical thinking is probably the best thing you can do to prevent online crime.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners recognize that we all must work to eliminate the stigma individuals may experience if they are victimized. There is no shame to falling victim to an online scheme, which are often designed by professional criminals, sophisticated, and tested repeatedly across the country.
For this reason, the “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign also publicizes ways to report scams and incidents of fraud to the FBI and local law enforcement.
To learn more about these and other scams targeting Americans visit FBI.gov, and if you believe you are the victim of a scam, take action by reporting it to FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov or by contacting your local law enforcement agency.
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Executives Charged with Bid Rigging, Territorial Allocation and Defrauding the U.S. Forest Service After a Wiretap InvestigationRead the Press Release
BOISE – Following a court-authorized wiretap investigation, a federal grand jury in Boise returned an indictment last week charging two executives, Ike Tomlinson, 60, of Terreton, and Kris Bird, 61, of Salmon, of competing companies with conspiring to rig bids and allocate territories in violation of the Sherman Act, conspiring to commit wire fraud, and committing wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to the seven-count felony indictment, Tomlinson and Bird’s conspiracy affected contracts for forest-firefighting services. As alleged, the U.S. Forest Service runs a competitive bidding process for these contracts to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently. The indictment alleges that from at least in or about February 2014, up to and including in or about March, Tomlinson and Bird coordinated their bids to “squeeze” and “drown” competitors; accepted payment for fuel trucks at collusive and noncompetitive daily rates; and tried to conceal their actions.
This investigation was conducted by the department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), which included FBI agents, with judicial authorization, intercepting phone calls between Tomlinson and Bird. As alleged, Tomlinson and Bird spoke with one another shortly before the deadline to submit bids on fuel truck contracts. During calls quoted in the indictment, they allegedly agreed to rig bids, allocate territories, and target competitors.
A violation of the Sherman Act carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine for individuals and a maximum penalty of a $100 million fine for corporations. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by victims if either amount is greater than the maximum. A violation of the wire fraud statute carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho, and FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, Boise Resident Agency are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Matthew Chou and Assistant Chief Christopher J. Carlberg of the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.
In November 2019, the Justice Department created the PCSF, a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government – federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation, and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force. Anyone with information in connection with this investigation can contact the PCSF at the link listed above.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Former Idaho Resident Indicted as a “Money Mule” for Laundering Funds from Wire Fraud and Bank Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
BOISE – Andrew Samargis, 69, a former Idaho resident was charged yesterday for conspiring to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business by collecting money from various wire and bank frauds schemes and then sending the funds to his coconspirators, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
The indictment alleges that from approximately October 2017 through July 2020, Samargis conspired with others to operate as a money mule by receiving at least $1 million of financial fraud proceeds into accounts that he controlled and then conducting financial transactions with the proceeds to disguise the nature and source of the funds. The wire fraud and bank fraud schemes included credit card fraud, counterfeit check-cashing fraud, and COVID-19 funding fraud. A money mule is a person who transfers illegally acquired money on behalf of other individuals and typically receives compensation for providing their services.
It is further alleged that Samargis transmitted the proceeds of the fraud schemes to coconspirators through cash withdrawals, cashier’s checks, and wire transfers, at times disguising the purpose of the transfer by providing false descriptions to the banks. Despite banks repeatedly closing his accounts due to fraud, Samargis continued to serve as a money mule for the fraud schemes.
Samargis is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. If convicted of the most serious crime, Samargis faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, a $500,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit credited the investigation by the United States Secret Service, Spokane Resident Office, together with the assistance from the United States Secret Service Tucson and Las Vegas Offices, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney Campbell is prosecuting the case.
This month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, have released a series of PSAs as part of the “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign. This campaign is an effort to raise public awareness and alert Idahoans to dangers from online scams and fraud scheme. For more information, and to view the PSAs, please visit: justice.gov/usao-id/public-service-announcements
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Nampa Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOISE – Jordan Brown, 28, of Nampa, was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, the investigation began in January 2021 when the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received a CyberTip involving the social media and messaging application Discord. A CyberTip is a report submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). NCMEC gathers leads and tips regarding suspected online crimes against children and forwards them to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. ICAC determined that a Discord account, later identified as belonging to Brown, had uploaded child pornography.
ICAC obtained a search warrant for the contents of the Discord account and located numerous files of child pornography within the account. ICAC later contacted Brown and interviewed him. During the interview, Brown admitted to receiving and viewing child pornography.
ICAC seized Brown’s cellphone and obtained a search warrant to examine it. During the examination, ICAC located files of child pornography and evidence that Brown had distributed child pornography to others. ICAC also located evidence that Brown had engaged in online conversations with people who appeared to be juveniles.
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also sentenced Brown to ten years of supervised release and ordered Brown to pay $12,000 in restitution to the victims in the images he possessed. Brown will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigation by the Idaho Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which is a partially federally funded cooperative effort between the state, counties, cities, and the United States to protect children from sexual exploitation and online predators. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kassandra McGrady prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and State and Local Law Enforcement Officials Release Third “Don’t Click December” PSARead the Press Release
BOISE – During the holiday season, online criminals increasingly target Idahoans through online scams and fraud schemes. Today, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, along with the FBI, the Idaho State Police, the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, the Boise Police Department, the Meridian Police Department, and the Garden City Police Department, released a third PSA as part of their joint “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign. The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, AARP Idaho, and the Better Business Bureau also participated in the announcement.
The campaign advises members of the public to exercise skepticism and caution when receiving unsolicited online, email, pop-up, or text communications from unknown or unverified sources. If there is any doubt about a link, message, or attachment, law enforcement cautions: “don’t click it.”
In the third PSA, available here, Ada County Prosecuting Attorney Jan Bennetts, Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea, and U.S. Attorney Hurwit warn the public about the “Account subscription” scam and explain some of the ways in which individuals can protect themselves.
In this scam, you could receive an email or text message indicating a subscription has been renewed for another year. The message encourages you to click a link to verify or to receive a receipt for the subscription. The criminals on the other end could be posing as a subscription service you participate in or as one you do not actively have. If you receive an unsolicited message asking you to click a subscription link you did not sign up for, don’t click it. If it appears to be a subscription you have signed up for, check the email address to verify it is from that service. Report as spam and delete any messages about auto-renewals from companies you don’t have subscriptions with.
As part of the ongoing campaign, one final PSA is planned to be released next week. These series of PSAs being released in the weeks leading up to Christmas is an effort to alert the public to other common online fraud schemes that Idaho law enforcement has seen affect Idahoans.
Unfortunately, these are not the only schemes affecting the public, and new schemes arise all the time. Law enforcement hopes that the “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign will raise public awareness and encourage individuals to talk to their friends and relatives about not clicking suspicious links, texts, messages, pop-ups, or attachments.
“We have witnessed many Idahoans lose their hard-earned money or their entire retirement savings to online scams. And, sadly, this type of crime tends to spike during the holiday season,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “But, together, we can reduce the risks by talking with each other about how to avoid such scams, and I’m grateful to our law enforcement partners and the AARP for joining us in the Don’t Click December campaign. We also encourage Idahoans to report any scams as soon as possible so that law enforcement can investigate and we can bring these vicious online criminals to justice.”
“We can all play a part in preventing scammers from targeting their next victim in our communities,” said Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts. “If you do find yourself the victim of a scam, contact local law enforcement. My office works closely with our law enforcement partners to hold offenders accountable for victimizing people through scams.”
“While the partnerships between our state and federal partners are vital, it is the partnerships with our community members that have the most impact on these types of crimes,” said Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners recognize that we all must work to eliminate the stigma individuals may experience if they are victimized. There is no shame to falling victim to an online scheme, which are often designed by professional criminals, sophisticated, and tested repeatedly across the country.
For this reason, the “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign also publicizes ways to report scams and incidents of fraud to the FBI and local law enforcement.
To learn more about these and other scams targeting Americans visit FBI.gov, and if you believe you are the victim of a scam, take action by reporting it to FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov or by contacting your local law enforcement agency.
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Nevada Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for Bank Fraud and Identity Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
BOISE – Anubor Bagbi, 63, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, between May and December 2022, Bagbi obtained fraudulent or stolen checks issued to legitimate companies, then established fraudulent bank accounts in various states, including Idaho, using the name of the business payees on the stolen and fraudulent checks. In order open the fraudulent business accounts, Bagbi registered the business names with the Secretary of State and obtained employer identification numbers from the IRS. He used the fraudulent documents, false identifications, and fabricated tax documents and utility bills to open the accounts. Several of the identifications Bagbi used contained the real names of identity theft victims.
In addition to the bank fraud scheme, beginning in April 2020, Bagbi applied for and received funds though the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) under the CARES Act. Bagbi submitted fraudulent documents and applications in both his own name and other individuals’ names for businesses that did not exist. As a result, Bagbi caused a loss of $664,828.
In total, the bank fraud and COVID fraud schemes resulted in a loss of $886,879.86.
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also sentenced Bagbi to five years of supervised release and to pay full restitution in the amount of $886,879.86.
“This defendant callously victimized businesses, individuals, and the American taxpayers through his related schemes,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “His prosecution and sentence show that those who commit mail fraud, identity theft, and COVID relief—either separately or in combination—will be brought to justice. I am grateful to the talented team of investigators and prosecutors who successfully handled this case.”
“This sentencing demonstrates our resolve to deter crimes which threaten our financial infrastructure and defraud taxpayer-funded relief,” said Special Agent in Charge Marc DellaSala, U.S. Secret Service. “I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and our local law enforcement partners for their dedication to this effort.”
“Providing false and stolen information to fraudulently gain access to pandemic relief funds is a theft of taxpayer funds,” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King. “OIG remains committed to rooting out bad actors and protecting the integrity of SBA programs. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”
U.S. Attorney Hurwit credited the cooperative efforts of the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General who investigated the case with assistance from the Boise Police Department, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, and the Garden City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darci Crane and Brittney Campbell prosecuted the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and State and Local Law Enforcement Officials Release Second “Don’t Click December” PSARead the Press Release
BOISE – During the holiday season, online criminals increasingly target Idahoans through online scams and fraud schemes. Today, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, along with the FBI, the Idaho State Police, the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, the Boise Police Department, the Meridian Police Department, and the Garden City Police Department, released a second PSA as part of their joint “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign. The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, AARP Idaho, and the Better Business Bureau also participated in the announcement.
The campaign advises members of the public to exercise skepticism and caution when receiving unsolicited online, email, pop-up, or text communications from unknown or unverified sources. If there is any doubt about a link, message, or attachment, law enforcement cautions: “don’t click it.”
In the second PSA, available here, Garden City Police Chief Cory Stambaugh, Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar, and U.S. Attorney Hurwit warn the public about the “Package can’t be delivered” scam and explain some of the ways in which individuals can protect themselves.
This scam targets individuals through text messages or emails, claiming a package cannot be delivered unless they click the provided link and enter personal information or pay a redelivery fee. Often the scammer wants you to click a link to steal your money and information. Don’t click it. Instead, contact the delivery service or seller directly using a verified number or website.
As part of the ongoing campaign, two additional PSAs are planned to be released in the weeks leading up to Christmas in an effort to alert the public to other common online fraud schemes that Idaho law enforcement has seen affect Idahoans.
Unfortunately, these are not the only schemes affecting the public, and new schemes arise all the time. Law enforcement hopes that the “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign will raise public awareness and encourage individuals to talk to their friends and relatives about not clicking suspicious links, texts, messages, pop-ups, or attachments.
“We have witnessed many Idahoans lose their hard-earned money or their entire retirement savings to online scams. And, sadly, this type of crime tends to spike during the holiday season,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “But, together, we can reduce the risks by talking with each other about how to avoid such scams, and I’m grateful to our law enforcement partners and the AARP for joining us in the Don’t Click December campaign. We also encourage Idahoans to report any scams as soon as possible so that law enforcement can investigate and we can bring these vicious online criminals to justice.”
“Our detectives see the devastating impact scams like these have on members of our community every day. It can happen to anyone,” said Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar. “By working with our partners to talk about scams and point out the red flags, we hope to not only prevent you and your loved ones from becoming victims but to also create an environment where those who have fallen victim to a scammer feel comfortable reporting.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners recognize that we all must work to eliminate the stigma individuals may experience if they are victimized. There is no shame to falling victim to an online scheme, which are often designed by professional criminals, sophisticated, and tested repeatedly across the country.
For this reason, the “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign also publicizes ways to report scams and incidents of fraud to the FBI and local law enforcement.
To learn more about these and other scams targeting Americans visit FBI.gov, and if you believe you are the victim of a scam, take action by reporting it to FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov or by contacting your local law enforcement agency.
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Two Treasure Valley Men Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOISE – Cosme Palomo, 60, of Boise, and Robert Dean Glenn, 48, of Nampa, were sentenced in separate cases for federal drug crimes involving methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
On December 4, 2023, Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Palomo to 87 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court records, between March and June 2023, Palomo distributed methamphetamine to another person on seven separate occasions, totaling 1.3 pounds of methamphetamine. Law enforcement also searched Palomo’s residence as part of the investigation and located an additional 1.7 pounds of methamphetamine and 11 firearms. Palomo pleaded guilty to the charge of distribution of methamphetamine on September 13, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigations by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Boise Police Department, and the Boise Area Narcotics Drugs Interdiction Taskforce, which led to the charges in the Palomo case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Blackadar prosecuted this case.
In a separate case, Glenn was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in connection with a January 10, 2023 incident in which he fled from a Nampa Police Officer during a routine traffic stop.
According to court records, Glenn jumped out of a moving vehicle during a traffic stop in an attempt to flee from law enforcement. After a foot pursuit through a grocery store parking lot, a Nampa Police Department patrol officer was able to apprehend Glenn. The officer searched Glenn and found nearly one pound of methamphetamine taped to his ankle. The bag holding the methamphetamine had a hole in it and spilled methamphetamine in a serpentine-like path through the grocery store parking lot when Glenn had run from police. Officers secured the scene and collected the methamphetamine scattered throughout the parking lot.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the Nampa Police Department, which led to the charges in the Glenn case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse prosecuted this case.
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