Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Spokane Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Meth in Idaho

COEUR D’ALENE – Charles Edward Gibson, 43, of Spokane, Washington, was sentenced yestereday in United States District Court in Coeur d’Alene to 240 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Rosanna Malouf Petersen of the Eastern District of Washington also ordered Gibson to forfeit $35,000. He pleaded guilty to the charge on June 25, 2013.

According to the plea agreement, Gibson admitted that between December 4, 2012, and January 8, 2013, he distributed to an undercover officer and received payment for at least 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. It was later determined the street value of the methamphetamine was at least $35,000. Gibson admitted that he knew the substance was methamphetamine and he knowingly distributed it.

Gibson’s co-defendant, Vanessa Louise Wagner, 30, of Plummer, Idaho, pleaded guilty on July 22, 2013, to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Sentencing is set for December 9, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d’Alene.

“This prosecution underscores our commitment to work with our federal, state, and local partners to aggressively prosecute drug traffickers,” said Olson. “Methamphetamine is highly addictive. Distributors benefit from the undeniable damage they cause to individuals, families, and our communities. Those who bring methamphetamine into this state will be prosecuted and serve a lengthy prison sentence.”

The case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Idaho State Police, Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police and Plummer Police Department.