Jesus Sanchez-Carranza, 39, a Mexican national living in Teton City, Idaho, was convicted yesterday by a federal jury in Pocatello of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine on or within 1,000 feet of a playground, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today. Sanchez- Carranza will be sentenced on July 19, 2011, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

During the two-day trial, the jury heard evidence that on June 8, 2010, Sanchez-Carranza supplied methamphetamine to a co-defendant who then sold the methamphetamine to an undercover officer. The methamphetamine deal took place near the Ruby Carson Park in Tetonia, Idaho. In July 2010, Sanchez-Carranza and 12 other persons were charged in a superseding indictment with 34 counts of conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance near a playground, and money laundering. Three defendants were also charged with illegal re-entry into the United States. All other defendants have entered pleas related to these charges and are awaiting sentencing.

A conviction for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance is punishable from five to 40 years in prison, a $2 million fine, and a minimum of four years of supervised release; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance is punishable from five to 40 years in prison, a $2 million fine, and a minimum of four years of supervised release; and distribution of a controlled substance near a playground carries a minimum of five to a maximum of 80 years in prison, a $4 million fine, and at least eight years of supervised release.

“This successful prosecution shows that federal, state and local law enforcement officers in Idaho will work together tirelessly to bring to justice those who bring methamphetamine to our communities,” said Olson. “We will strive to ensure that every Idaho community is free from this insidious addictive drug.”

The case was investigated primarily by the Teton County Sheriff's Office, Idaho State Police, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with assistance from the Idaho Falls Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The investigation was the result of a joint investigation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.