BOISE – Ramon G. Zamarripa, 54, of Twin Falls, Idaho, pled guilty today in United States District Court to possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

According to court documents, on March 12, 2012, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Zamarripa’s residence in Twin Falls and located methamphetamine along with evidence that Zamarripa intended to distribute the drugs. A .25 caliber handgun was also found in Zamarripa's possession. Zamarripa admitted in court today that he possessed the methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possessed the firearm with intent to facilitate drug trafficking crimes.

The charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute carries a minimum term of five years with a maximum of forty years in prison, a fine up to $5 million, and at least four years of supervised release. The charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense is punishable by not less than five years with the possibility of life in prison, consecutive to any other prison sentence imposed, a maximum fine of $250,000, and at least five years of supervised release.

Zamarripa is scheduled for sentencing on December 10, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.

The case was investigated by the Twin Falls Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.