Blackfoot Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution

POCATELLO – Eldon K. McConnell, 49, of Blackfoot, Idaho, was sentenced today to sixteen months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan also ordered McConnell to serve three years of supervised release following his release from prison.  McConnell pleaded guilty to the charge on January 16, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, on November 30, 2011, the defendant was contacted by law enforcement officers at the Ramada Inn, Chubbuck, Idaho.  The defendant had, in the hotel room, approximately 3.7 grams of methamphetamine.  The defendant possessed the methamphetamine intending to distribute it to another person, and admitted to such in a subsequent interview with officers.

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.