Federal Jury Finds Caldwell Man Guilty of Conspiracy and Distributing Methamphetamine
BOISE – Rolondo F. Gonzalez, 57, of Caldwell, Idaho, was convicted by a federal jury yesterday on one count of conspiracy to distribute more than fifty grams of pure methamphetamine and three counts of distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Gonzalez is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.
During the two-day trial, the jury heard evidence that the defendant conspired with codefendant Miguel Beltran-Marquez, to distribute large amounts of high purity methamphetamine. According to testimony, Gonzalez sold a total of six ounces of high purity methamphetamine to an undercover detective. The detective ordered methamphetamine from co-defendant Beltran- Marquez, who sent Gonzalez to deliver the methamphetamine to the undercover detective on three separate dates in 2011. Five of the six ounces were determined to be 100% pure. The defendant, who had been on electronic monitoring since his arrest on September 13, 2011, was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals, after the jury returned its guilty verdict on all counts.
Co-defendant Miguel Beltran-Marquez, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty and was sentenced on April 30, 2012, to 188 months in prison, a $1,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit $15,000 in drug proceeds.
Gonzalez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years to life on the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one of the counts of distributing methamphetamine. The two remaining counts of distributing methamphetamine are punishable by at least five years and up to forty years in prison. Additionally, the defendant faces a $30,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release. The government will seek at sentencing to forfeit $15,000 in drug proceeds from the defendant.
“This jury’s verdict sends the strong message that those who conspire and distribute dangerous drugs in our community will be caught and punished,” said Olson.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the DEA Task Force, which is comprised of officers from the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, Nampa City Police Department, Boise City Police Department, and Meridian City Police Department.
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.
