BOISE – Rocendo Lara, 46, a Mexican national formerly living in Jerome, Idaho, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Lara to serve four years of supervised release following his prison term and forfeit drug proceeds of at least $5,000. Lara will be subject to deportation after he is released from prison.

On September 28, Lara pled guilty count one of a superseding indictment filed on April 13, 2011. According to court documents and the defendant's admissions in court, from February 1, 2009 to February 8, 2011, Lara conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in the District of Idaho.

Co-defendant Francisco Garcia, of Bliss, Idaho, entered a plea of guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on September 16, 2011. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, 2012, at the federal courthouse in Boise. The charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine is punishable for not less than 10 years up to life in prison, a $10 million fine, and a minimum of five years of supervised release.

Co-defendant Jesus Manuel Fontes, of Jerome, is scheduled to appear in court for a change of plea on January 11. The fourth co-defendant, Manuel V. Guerrero, formerly residing in Jerome, remains a fugitive.

The case was investigated by the Idaho State Police.