Final Guilty Plea in 2011 “Northside” Sweep
BOISE – Khesha Marie Freese, 35, of Boise, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.
According to the plea agreement, Freese sold varying amounts of methamphetamine on four occasions. On October 5, 2010, Freese sold 15.1 grams of nearly 100% pure methamphetamine to an individual she met at a Nampa, Idaho, gas station for $760. On November 3, 2010, at a store in Nampa, Freese sold 3.23 grams of methamphetamine for $240. On November 8 and 18, 2010, Freese sold a total of 6.62 grams of methamphetamine at her Boise apartment, for $450. At least two other co-conspirators are referenced, but not named, in Freese’s plea agreement. Freese admitted that between October 5 and November 18, 2010, she knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine.
Freese faces a minimum prison term of five years, up to 40 years, a maximum fine of $5 million, and at least four years of supervised release.
Sentencing is set for November 14, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.
Freese, indicted in November 2011, is an associate of a “Norteño,” or Northside, street gang active in the Treasure Valley. Ten other Northside gang members and known associates were indicted in October and November 2011. The indictments were primarily the result of a 14-month investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force. The Boise Police Department's gang unit conducted the investigation of one of the cases. Freese is the last defendant to enter a guilty plea.
The 11 gang members and associates are being prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership, the Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The TreasureValley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit www.treasurevalleypartners.org.
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.
