POCATELLO – Two co-defendants in
Eastern Idaho were sentenced in United States District Court yesterday for drug
trafficking and related charges, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today.
The defendants appeared before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the
federal courthouse in Pocatello.
Juan Aguilar, 60, a Mexian
national, formerly residing in San Jose, California, was sentenced to 120
months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for
possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine.
Aguilar was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. He pleaded guilty to the charge
on December 19, 2012.
Jose Rios-Jimenez, 62, a Mexican
national formerly living in Menan, Idaho, was sentenced to time served – 16
months – for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and illegal entry
of a removed alien. He was ordered to forfeit the handgun he illegally
possessed. Rio-Jimenez pleaded guilty to the charges on December 18. He will be
subject to deportation.
Four co-defendants have pleaded
guilty to related charges and are awaiting sentencing. Juan Mendoza, 41, of
Menan, pleaded guilty on December 18 to possession with intent to distribute in
excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine; a sentence date has not been set.
Raymond Camacho, a/k/a Jesus Mendoza Nunez, 57, a Mexican national, pleaded
guilty on January 24, 2013, to possession with intent to distribute in excess
of 50 grams of methamphetamine. Douglas I. McAdam, 47, of Pocatello, pleaded
guilty on February 11 to possession with intent to distribute in excess of five
grams of methamphetamine. Camacho and McAdam are set for sentencing on April
29. Marilyn N. Leones, 42, of Pocatello, pleaded guilty to possession with
intent to distribute methamphetamine; she is set for sentencing on May 28.
Eldon K. McConnell, 48, of Pocatello, is scheduled for a competency hearing on
April 4.
According to the plea agreements,
on November 24, 2011, Camacho and Aguilar were in a vehicle stopped by law
enforcement officers in Bannock County, Idaho. A search of the vehicle located
approximately three pounds of methamphetamine. Forensic analysis later
determined the substance contained in excess of 50 grams of actual
methamphetamine. Camacho and Aguilar admitted to knowing the methamphetamine
was in the vehicle and possessed it with the intention of distributing it to
others.
During execution of a search
warrant at Mendoza’s residence in Jefferson County, Idaho, law enforcement
discovered various controlled substances. Mendoza later admitted that he
possessed the methamphetamine intending to distribute it to others and that he
had previously distributed methamphetamine in the Pocatello area. During
execution of a second search warrant, at Rios-Jimenez’s residence, also in
Jefferson County, law enforcement discovered a Hi-Point.380 caliber pistol,
which Rios-Jimenez admitted possessing. Authorities also discovered that
Rios-Jimenez was illegally in the United States, having been lawfully removed
on December 7, 1990.
The case was investigated by
Idaho State Police, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF),
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security
Investigations (HSI), and Chubbuck Police Department.
