105th Defendant Sentenced in Federal Court in 2011 for Methamphetamine Distribution
BOISE – Aron Herrera Gonzales, 28, of Homedale, Idaho, was sentenced today for his leadership role in a methamphetamine trafficking organization that imported multiple pounds of 100% pure methamphetamine from Nevada to Idaho, announced Wendy J. Olson, U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho. The organization distributed methamphetamine to Norteno gang members throughout Canyon County. Chief United States District Judge B. Lynn Winmill sentenced Gonzales to 188 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Gonzales was ordered to pay a $1,500 fine and to forfeit $25,000 in cash proceeds.
Gonzales was the 105th person sentenced in federal district court in Idaho in 2011 for offenses related to the distribution of methamphetamine. His four co-defendants, Amanda Smith, Ricardo Mercado, Ruben Arredondo Mora, and Lorrie Ann Chavez earlier were sentenced to 240 months, 188 months, 120 months and 78 months in prison respectively.
At Gonzales' sentencing, prosecutors presented evidence that Gonzales distributed methamphetamine to documented Norteno gang members and directed others to travel to Nevada to pick up multi-pound shipments of methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory determined that the methamphetamine imported to Idaho was 100% pure. It was determined that during the conspiracy, Gonzales and his co-defendants, Smith and Mercado, kidnapped a customer at gunpoint in an effort to ensure payment for past methamphetamine sales. Gonzales had previously been convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho on April 22, 2002. He was released from federal prison on September 13, 2010, after serving a sentence of 114 months.
“Methamphetamine trafficking, particularly to gang members, is a serious problem that demands a serious response from law enforcement, prosecutors and the courts,” said Olson. “Law enforcement has recently seen an alarming increase in high potency methamphetamine being imported into Idaho from California, Arizona, Nevada and Mexico. These defendants, appropriately, will pay a heavy price for bringing this dangerously addictive drug to Idaho communities.”
The 105 defendants sentenced in federal court in Idaho this year for methamphetamine trafficking offenses received sentences ranging from time served to life imprisonment. Thirtytwo defendants received sentences greater than 100 months in prison. Olson noted that the shorter sentences were imposed on defendants who were low-level distributors, mostly in larger distribution rings, those with few prior criminal convictions, and those who cooperated against other drug traffickers.
These cases collectively involved investigation and prosecution of methamphetamine distribution throughout Idaho. The defendants were from 33 different Idaho cities, including rural areas such as Tetonia, Victor, Preston, Parma, and Rathdrum, and more populated areas such as Boise, Nampa, Pocatello, and Coeur D'Alene. Eight were from states other than Idaho and 27 were illegal aliens or Mexican nationals. Nineteen cases involved multiple defendants. One prosecution involved 14 defendants who were convicted and sentenced for distributing more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine throughout Southwest Idaho between March 2009 and mid-July 2010. The fourteenth defendant, Francisco Quinones, 51, a Mexican national, was sentenced earlier today to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on distribution of methamphetamine charges.
“Methamphetamine remains Idaho's most significant drug problem,” said Olson. "Mexican drug cartels, local organizations and individuals continue to bring this dangerously addictive drug to our communities. While they seek ill-gotten profits or barter drugs for sex or commodities, they harm our young people and those who are weak, and they bring an intolerable risk of guns and violence. Law enforcement agencies throughout Idaho are committed to working together and using all available resources to investigate and prosecute methamphetamine traffickers.”
More than 30 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation of these cases. Many were investigated by multi-agency task forces.
A list of the defendants, their hometowns, and sentences is attached to this press release.
105th Defendant Sentenced in Federal Court in 2011 for Methamphetamine Distribution
U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Idaho
December 2, 2011
ATTACHMENT
- Aron Herrera Gonzales, Homedale, Idaho, 188 months
- Ricardo Mercado, Homedale, Idaho, 188 months
- Ruben Arredondo Mora, Caldwell, Idaho, 120 months
- Lorrie Ann Chavez, Nampa, 78 months
- Amanda Lynn Smith, Homedale, Idaho, 240 months
- Francisco Quinones, a Mexican national, 18 months
- Jose Gallardo-Dedios, a Mexican national, 188 months
- Guadalupe Valenzuela, a Mexican national, 168 months
- Jason Thomas Marr, Weiser, Idaho, 130 months
- Angel Joel Dedios, a Mexican national, 121 months
- Juan Arvizu-Betancourt, a Mexican national, 18 months
- Heidi Tucker, Star, Idaho, 12 months
- Kalli Lindauer, Boise, 78 months
- Haylee Lindauer, Boise, 72 months
- Shawn Peterson, American Falls, Idaho, 46 months
- Jorge Valdez, Nampa, 57 months
- Fortino Bastida, a Mexican national, 135 months
- Quentin Mick, Boise, 90 months
- Nabor Martinez-Herrera, a Mexican national, 48 months
- Juan Montejano Barraza, 41, an illegal alien residing in Wendell, Idaho, 128 months
- Julio Cesar Cardelas-Martinez, an illegal alien residing in Jerome, Idaho, 97 months
- Noel Diaz, Richfield, Idaho, 108 months
- Eugenio Arreola-Villa, Caldwell, Idaho, 70 months
- Adolfo Baustista Ascencio, Lewiston, Idaho, 126 months
- Eduardo Lopez-Rojo, Mountain Home, Idaho, 70 months
- Leaha Annette Rivera, Rupert, Idaho, 108 months
- Sergio Said Gonzalez-Borquez, a Mexican national residing in Caldwell, five years
- Lidia Yolanda Gonzalez, a Mexican national residing in Caldwell, 46 months
- Israel Jacob Salinas, Nampa, Idaho, 75 months
- Rick D. Elliot, Rexburg, Idaho, 57 months
- Martin Noriega a/k/a Martin Clemente Niebla, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, 151 months
- Meliton Nunez-Felix, Caldwell, Idaho, 87 months
- Don Ellingford, Shelley, Idaho, 124 months
- Lazaro Ramirez Arreola, Parma, Idaho, 24 months
- Rigaberto Moreno Sanchez, Rupert, Idaho, 168 months
- Shad Alan Johnson, Rathdrum, Idaho, 60 months
- Marcos Gallegos, Pocatello, 24 months
- Sammy Ray Bowsher, Pocatello, 13 months
- Julio Medellin-Pena, Burley, Idaho, 126 months
- Veronica Cruz-Jimenz, a Mexican national, 120 months
- Andres Collado-Rojas, a Mexican national, 151 months
- Diego Vega-Corona, a Mexican national, 78 months
- Luis Angel Cruz-Jimenez, a Mexican national, 37 months
- Julio Jimenez-Morales, a Mexican national, 108 months
- Jose Penaloza-Paramo, a Mexican national, 240 months
- Jesus Sanchez-Carranza a Mexican national, 97 months
- Jesus Mara-Figuerora, Tetonia, Idaho, 70 months
- Arnulfo Ontiveros-Lopez, a Mexican national, 24 months
- Benito Perez-Zamora, Victor, Idaho, 41 months
- Noel Salto-Vivanco, Caldwell, 87 months
- Francisca Salto-Flores, Caldwell, 13 months
- Jose Cirilo-Duran, Weiser, Idaho, 27 months
- Juan Salto-Vivanco, Caldwell, 108 months
- Juan Ramirez-Bolanos, Caldwell, 115 months
- Fernando Luna-Rodriguez, California, 30 months
- Ricardo Payan- Beltran, a Mexican national, to 30 months
- Anna Zavala, Declo, Idaho, time served
- Estela Castro, Paul, Idaho, time served
- Oscar Lopez Hernandez, Ogden, Utah, 66 months
- Jaime Cortes, Homedale, Idaho, 11 months
- Douglas D. Dalton, Aberdeen, Idaho, 156 months
- Bart M Pitcher, Preston, Idaho, 144 months
- Michael Jay Bell, Harlem, Montana, 240 months
- Jeanette L Driever, Pocatello, 50 months
- Tina M Hawkes, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, 24 months
- Shane Ranzenberger, Smithfield, Utah, 195 months
- Richard B Hasthepipe, Pocatello, time served
- Kirk Lee Fullmer, Ammon, Idaho, five months
- Edward D Waldal, Pocatello, 50 months
- Camille Zamaro, Pocatello, 64 months
- Paul E Zamaro, Pocatello, 110 months
- Travis D Marshall, Pocatello, 24 months
- Ronald L Lynch, Pocatello, 37 months
- Jeff Powell, Idaho Falls, 37 months
- Richard Lee Miera, Pocatello, 42 months
- Kenneth Midthun, Chubbuck, Idaho, 42 months
- Darin G. Woodbury, Burley, Idaho, 41 months
- Erica Cordova, Burley, 36 months
- Brian James Whitaker, Nampa, 84 months
- Raul Flores-Chavez, a Mexican national, 87 months
- Tiogenes Madera-Vicente, a Mexican national, 60 months
- Sergio Barajas, Rosamond, California, 33 months
- Meliton Nunez-Felix, Caldwell, 87 months
- Elisha Ortiz, Twin Falls, 52 months
- Ronald Lee Sears, Boise, 84 months
- Justin Lyle Izatt, Twin Falls, life in prison
- Daniel Bisher, Coeur d'Alene, 168 months
- Enrique Manuel Ruiz-Soto, Riverside, California, 72 months
- Julio Cesar Avila-Humar, a Mexican national, 57 months
- Timothy Lynn Colton, Boise, 87 months
- Michael Brewer, Ontario, Oregon, 84 months
- Kristopher K. Converse, Pocatello, seven and half years
- Ashlee C Tinno, Firth, Idaho, 40 months
- Jeffrey D Lee, Fort Hall, Idaho, 10 months
- Arturo Galvan-Garcia, Pocatello, 15 months
- Russell Dwayne McNally, Boise, 97 months
- Anayell Nieto-Rojas, Michoacan, Mexico, 13 years
- Misael Gastelum-Ferro, a Mexican national, 33 months
- Tereso Ornelas-Macias, Rexburg, Idaho, 33 months
- Ricardo Rodriguez-Avila, a Mexican national, 126 months
- Mark Aitken, Menan, Idaho, 84 months
- Randy Larson, Rexburg/Idaho Falls area, 46 months
- Timothy Chezik, Idaho Falls, 36 months
- Melia Eldredge, Idaho Falls, 36 months
- Richard Aitken, Menan, five months
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a collaborative effort by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and communities to prevent and deter gun violence.
