3 sentenced in meth case
Three people were sentenced in U.S. District Court in Pocatello on drug trafficking charges.
The defendants, including two Mexican nationals, appeared before Judge B. Lynn Winmill on Monday.
Juan Aguilar, 60, formerly living in San Jose, Calif., was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. He pleaded guilty.
Jose Rios-Jimenez, 62, 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. He will be subject to deportation. Rio-Jimenez also pleaded guilty to the charges.
Juan Mendoza, 41, of Menan, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 102 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Mendoza was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. He pleaded guilty.
Three co-defendants have pleaded guilty to related charges and are awaiting sentencing:
– Raymond Camacho, aka Jesus Mendoza Nunez, 57, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine.
– Douglas I. McAdam, 47, of Pocatello, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute in excess of five grams of methamphetamine.
– Eldon K. McConnell, 48, of Pocatello, is scheduled for a competency hearing on April 4.
According to the plea agreements, in November 2011, Camacho and Aguilar were in a vehicle stopped by law enforcement officers in Bannock County. Police found about 3 pounds of methamphetamine. Forensic analysis later determined the substance contained more than 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, 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 deported in 1990.
