One Defendant Admitted Committing a Drive-by Shooting

BOISE – Daniel Pena, 33, of Caldwell, Idaho, was sentenced today to 156 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Co-defendant Monica Martinez, 43, of Wilder, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. She was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine. The defendants agreed to forfeit assets derived from proceeds of the drug trafficking crime.

Pena and Martinez pleaded guilty on January 23, 2012. According to court records, Martinez admitted that from May 20, 2009, to August 12, 2011, she conspired with other individuals to distribute in excess of 500 grams of methamphetamine. Pena admitted that from August 1 to August 12, 2011, he conspired to distribute in excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine in the Treasure Valley. Pena also admitted to committing a drive-by shooting on August 10, 2011, in which he fired several shots into a residence belonging to co-defendant Martinez, narrowly missing a juvenile who was asleep in a bed.

Three co-defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in Boise on June 25, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge. Shane Kenneth Brizendine, 37, of Wilder; Armando Jason Saltzer, 34, of Nampa, Idaho; and Mario Bautista, a/k/a “Gordo,” 35, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty on April 10 to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Bautista also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Saltzer faces a minimum term of 20 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release; Brizendine and Bautista each face a minimum term of 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. The charge carries a maximum fine of $10 million. On the firearms charge, Bautista also faces a minimum term of 10 years in prison, which must run consecutive to the sentence imposed on the drug conspiracy charge.

“Methamphetamine trafficking is a danger to every Idaho community,” said Olson. “With our federal, state and local law enforcement partners we will continue to aggressively investigate, prosecute and advocate for lengthy prison terms for those, like Mr. Pena, Ms. Martinez and their co-conspirators, who seek to bring this highly addictive drug into Idaho. I commend the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force for their work on this case.”

The case was investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, one of 160 Safe Streets task forces nationwide in which local, state and federal law enforcement agencies combine their resources and expertise to address gangs and other public safety issues across traditional jurisdictional boundaries throughout the Treasure Valley.