Douglas D. Dalton, 52, of Aberdeen, Idaho, was sentenced today to 156 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ordered Dalton to serve ten years of supervised release following his prison term. Dalton pleaded guilty to the charge in May 2010.

According to court documents, Mr. Dalton, working with other co-defendants distributed 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in southeast Idaho from July of 2006, through April of 2009.

On May 27, 2011, five co-conspirators were sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Bart M. Pitcher, 54, of Preston, Idaho, was sentenced to 144 months; Jeanette L. Driever, 32, of Pocatello, was sentenced to 50 months; Tina M. Hawkes, 44, of Blackfoot, was sentenced to 24 months; and Shane Ranzenberger, 41, of Smithfield, Utah, was sentenced to 35 months for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and 35 months for money laundering; both sentences to run concurrently. Co-defendant Richard B. Hasthepipe, 68, of Helena, Montana, was sentenced to time served.

Michael J. Bell, 55, of Pocatello, pleaded guilty in May 2010 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, using a person under the age of eighteen in a drug transaction, and conspiracy to launder money. He was sentenced on July 26, 2010, to 240 months in prison.

"Those who bring methamphetamine or other illegal addictive drugs to our communities will be brought to justice," said Olson. "Today's sentencing marks the end of a long-term and successful investigation. It is a victory for our entire community. I commend the cooperative law enforcement work that ended this drug trafficking operation."

The case was investigated by the Idaho State Police, the Chubbuck Police Department, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Preston Police Department, the Pocatello Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.