Boise – Miguel Beltran-Marquez, 35, of Caldwell, Idaho, was sentenced today to 188 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Beltran-Marquez to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term and to pay a $1,000 fine. Beltran-Marquez pleaded guilty to the charge in February 9, 2012. Beltran-Marquez also admitted to violating his supervised release on a prior conviction of Illegal Reentry out of the District of Arizona. Judge Lodge sentenced him to 18 months on the supervised release violation, to run concurrent to the 188 months imposed on the drug offense.

According to arguments made at sentencing, Beltran-Marquez sold 320 grams of pure methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer in Notus, Idaho in 2011. Beltran- Marquez is a citizen of Mexico who had previously been removed from the United States in 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2010. Beltran-Marquez has previous convictions for misconduct involving weapons and forgery in Maricopa County, Arizona. Beltran-Marquez will be deported after serving his prison sentence.

The case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, Nampa Police Department, and the Ada County Sheriff's Office.