Rexburg man guilty of drug, gun trafficking

A Rexburg man was found guilty of meth- and drug-related charges Tuesday.

Noe Munguia-Diaz, also known as Juan Ernesto Medina-Munguia, was found guilty in federal court in Pocatello of six counts of distributing methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and two counts of unlawfully possessing firearms.

During the two-day trial, Senior U.S. District Judge Terry J. Hatter heard evidence that Munguia-Diaz sold methamphetamine on six occasions between March 2011 and October 2012. During one of the sales, Munguia-Diaz also sold a handgun, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release.

When Munguia-Diaz was arrested, Rexburg police found he and his female passenger had more than $4,500 and evidence he had deposited $15,000 between two different banks. They also found loaded handgun.

Later than night, officers searching on a warrant recovered about 1 ounce of methamphetamine from a heating vent in Mungua-Diaz’s bedroom. Munguia-Diaz admitted to officers that he had methamphetamine in his house and that the firearm in the car belonged to him.

Munguia-Diaz is scheduled to be sentenced by Hatter in December at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

He faces five to 40 years in prison, a maximum fine of $5 million, and at least four years of supervised release. Munguia-Diaz will forfeit the two firearms he unlawfully possessed and $31,200 as proceeds from his criminal offenses.