BOISE – Crista Lydia Lara, 23, of Ontario, Oregon, was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Lara appeared before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise. She pleaded guilty to the charge on November 9, 2011.

According to the plea agreement, Lara conspired with her boyfriend, Samson Torres, to distribute methamphetamine. On two occasions, April 16 and July 2, 2009, the two sold methamphetamine to another individual. The first sale took place in Caldwell, Idaho, where Lara and Torres sold approximately seven grams of methamphetamine for $650. During the second sale, in Fruitland, Idaho, the two sold approximately seven grams of methamphetamine for $700.

Torres, a member of a Sureño street gang called “Brown Magic Clica” (BMC), was sentenced on January 9 to 70 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise. In pleading guilty to that crime, Torres admitted to the April 16 and July 2 methamphetamine sales.

The case was investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, a task force comprised of local and federal law enforcement agencies in the Treasure Valley.

Lara was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southeast Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit www.treasurevalleypartners.org.