Last Major Defendant In 20-Defendant Meth Distribution Ring Sentenced

Two Defendants Still Await Sentencing, and One Remains at Large

BOISE – Andrew Polney, 52, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge to 130 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Polney was also sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for Interstate Transportation in Aid of Racketeering Enterprise. The sentences will run concurrently.

Judge Lodge also ordered Polney to pay a $2,000 fine and a special assessment of $100 on each count.

According to court documents, the conspiracy involved two distribution cells in the Treasure Valley: one led by Jason Holmberg, the other by Andrew Polney. Kenneth Jones supplied multi-pound shipments of methamphetamine for transport to the Treasure Valley for distribution. The group operated from about June 2012, through the time of the various arrests on April 18, 2013, and May 23, 2013.

Nine co-defendants have been sentenced. Jason Holmberg, 38, of Middleton, Idaho, was sentenced to 180 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, and Interstate Transportation in Aid of Racketeering Enterprise. Kenneth Jones, 47, of Rio Linda, California, was sentenced to 130 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Interstate Transport in Aid of Racketeering. Jerry Holmberg, 65, of Marsing, Idaho, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Randy Beal, 59, of Caldwell, Idaho, was sentenced to 57 months in prison also for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Cynthia Prado, 32, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for Interstate Transport in Aid of Racketeering. Randi Seferos, 25, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced to 110 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Patrick Siemsen, 56, of Meridian, Idaho, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for Interstate Transportation in Aid of Racketeering Enterprise. Doreen Obrien, 44, of Caldwell, Idaho, was sentenced to 66 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Robbie Gallegos, 43, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for use of a communication device in committing a drug trafficking offense.

Of the other 10 defendants charged: five, who had lesser roles, have been sentenced to lesser penalties; one has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced tomorrow; one has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in July; and sentencing for another has not yet been set. Charges against one defendant were dismissed, subject to being re-filed. One defendant remains at large.

The indictment is the result of a joint investigation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), led by the Drug Enforcement Administration in conjunction with the Nampa Police Department and Boise Police Department. Other federal agencies participating in the OCDETF program include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Bureau of Land Management, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Marshals Service.

The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.