ISP Detectives assist in DEA Investigation resulting a federal conviction of a Boise methamphetamine trafficker

IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE - generated by our News Release ListServer
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IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE
Idaho State Police Headquarters, 700 S. Stratford Dr., Meridian, ID 83642

For Immediate Release: 09/04/20 2:30 P.M.
Please direct questions to the contact below.

The following was released by the Department of Justice, United States Attorney Bart M. Davis, District of Idaho.

Contact: Cassie Fulghum CASSANDRA.FULGHUM@USDOJ.GOV

Federal Jury Convicts Boise Methamphetamine Trafficker

BOISE - A federal jury sitting in Boise convicted Edward Eric Behrens, 42, of Boise, of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today. The trial began on Monday, August 31, 2020, and concluded Thursday evening when the jury returned their verdict.

During the four-day trial, the jury heard evidence that on February 2, 2019, Behrens was driving his car when he was stopped by Boise Police for a traffic infraction. During the stop, a drug-sniffing canine alerted to the odor of drugs in the car. A search of the car then revealed a large plastic bag containing 435.68 grams of pure methamphetamine. The evidence showed that this methamphetamine was possessed by Behrens and that he intended to distribute it to others.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 10, 2020, before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Boise. Behrens faces a sentence of 15 years to life in federal prison, a maximum fine of $10 million, and up to five years of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the Boise Police Department, Ada County Sheriff's Office, Idaho State Police, and Drug Enforcement Administration.

This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, with funds provided by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). The HIDTA program is a national drug-prohibition enforcement program run by the United States Office of National Drug Control Policy. The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA is a collaboration of local law enforcement drug task forces and prosecuting agencies dedicated to addressing regional drug trafficking organizations. Idaho uses HIDTA funds to investigate and prosecute drug trafficking organizations that operate in and around Ada, Canyon, and Bannock counties.

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