News
Release Five
Indicted by Federal Grand Jury in Idaho
on “Spice” Charges July 26 (Boise, Idaho) – Yesterday, fourteen search warrants were executed by law enforcement agencies at eleven locations in Twin Falls County, and three locations in Tigard, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. In addition, five individuals were arrested following their indictment Tuesday on federal charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue. The searches and arrests were conducted as part of the first-ever nationwide law enforcement action called “Operation Log Jam,” which targeted the synthetic designer drug industry responsible for the production and sale of synthetic drugs marketed as bath salts, Spice, incense or plant food. “These deadly products were designed for and targeted at our youth,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Matthew G. Barnes. “This sweeping coast to coast enforcement action is a warning that DEA and its law enforcement partners will continue to seek out those who endanger our communities.” Search warrants were executed at the following Magic Valley locations:
Search warrants were also executed at:
Four defendants were arrested on July 25, 2012, in Idaho and one in Oregon. The five were indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Pocatello, Idaho, on charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue. Those arrested were: Allen W. Nagel, 44, of Twin Falls, Idaho; Stephanie D. Nagel, 38, of Twin Falls; Gary E. Nagel, 45, of Twin Falls; Josh Cserepes, 26, of Twin Falls; and Joshua P. Becker, 32, of Tigard, Oregon. Becker was arraigned yesterday in federal court in Oregon. He was detained and ordered to be transported to Idaho for an appearance in federal court in Pocatello on August 1. The four Twin Falls defendants will be arraigned in federal court in Pocatello tomorrow morning. If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison, a $100,000 fine, and a minimum three years of supervised release The execution of the Magic Valley search warrants and federal indictment in Pocatello follow, by two months, the execution of federal search warrants at 13 Treasure Valley head shops. According to the Treasure Valley search warrant affidavits, nine of the 13 businesses were openly selling “spice,” a substance that tested positive for AM-2201. The DEA has determined that AM-2201 is a controlled substance analogue. Sixteen individuals face federal charges for conspiracy to sell drug paraphernalia in connection with the Treasure Valley case. In Idaho, both investigations are part of Operation Not for Human Consumption. “Spice,” a synthetic form of cannabis, which is a psychoactive herbal and chemical product that, when consumed, mimics the effects of cannabis. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation in conjunction with Twin Falls City Police Department, Twin Falls County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Idaho State Police, Ada County Sheriff's Office, Nampa City Police Department, Meridian City Police Department, Gooding County Sheriff's Office, Cassia County Sheriff's Office, and Minidoka County Sheriff's Office. Local law enforcement assisted in executing arrest and search warrants in Vancouver, Washington and Tigard, Oregon. An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct and is not evidence of guilt. A person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. |