Federal jury convicts Pocatello man for trafficking methamphetamine and heroin
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – After a four-day trial, a federal jury sitting in Pocatello found 46-year-old Adam Lee Vallely of Pocatello guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of possession with the intent to distribute heroin, U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr. announced Friday.
Senior U.S. District Judge Billy Roy Wilson, from the Eastern District of Arkansas, sitting by designation, presided over the trial, which began on June 6 and concluded with guilty verdicts on June 10.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Vallely engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy with others in southeast Idaho beginning in December of 2017, to August of 2018. Evidence established that Vallely participated in trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin from a Mexico source of supply. Evidence further established that Vallely had a source of supply in Salt Lake City that provided methamphetamine and heroin, and that Vallely and his co-conspirators attempted to get large quantities of cocaine from the Salt Lake City source of supply. In May of 2018, during the search a residence where Vallely was known to reside, law enforcement agents found methamphetamine, heroin, $15,000.00 in United States currency, and a money counting machine. At the time of the search Vallely was found hiding in an attic.
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances is punishable by a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine is punishable by a minimum of 5 years up to forty years in prison, and possession with intent to distribute heroin is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment. Due to Vallely’s criminal history record he is subject to a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence. The conspiracy charge is also punishable by a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least five years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Sentencing will be set before Senior U.S. District Judge Billy Roy Wilson at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.
U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr., commended the cooperative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms, and Explosives, the Idaho State Police, Pocatello Police Department, the Bannock County Sherriff’s Office, the Blackfoot Police Department, the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho Department of Corrections which led to charges.
