BOISE – Able Ortega, 36, of Burley, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to 71 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also imposed a $1,000 fine. Ortega pleaded guilty to the charges on December 6, 2011.

According to the plea agreement, Ortega admitted that between September 1 and December 15, 2010, he conspired with others to distribute in excess of 500 grams of methamphetamine. When interviewed by law enforcement, Ortega admitted to distributing methamphetamine in Boise, Idaho.

Three co-conspirators from Rupert, Idaho, were sentenced earlier on related drug and firearm charges. Rigaberto Moreno Sanchez was sentenced on September 12, 2011, to 168 months in prison; Leaha Rivera was sentenced on October 11, 2011, to 108 months; and Jose Luis Arteaga was sentenced on February 21, 2012, to 60 months.

“Methamphetamine is a dangerous, addictive drug that affects all of Idaho's communities, from our biggest cities to more rural areas,” said Olson. “This office and its law enforcement partners at the federal, state and local level will use all available tools to ensure that methamphetamine traffickers are caught and punished.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Boise Police Department.