Mexican National Living In Star Sentenced To 188 Months For Trafficking Meth

Defendant and Four Others Admitted to Distributing Approx. 130 Pounds of Meth

BOISE – U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today that Ausencio Gonzalez Tovar, 48, a Mexican national living in Star, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to 188 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Tovar appeared before Senior U.S. District Judge William Fremming Nielsen of the Eastern District of Washington. Tovar was also ordered to forfeit $100,000 in proceeds derived from the drug trafficking offense and $18,400 in seized currency. He will be deported to Mexico after serving his prison sentence.

Tovar pleaded guilty to the charge on October 2, 2013. According to court proceedings, he was arrested on April 3, 2013, and was found to be in possession of 1.7 kilograms of pure methamphetamine and a firearm. The government argued at sentencing that Tovar was responsible for distributing approximately 130 pounds of high purity methamphetamine between October 2012 and April 2013.

Four co-defendants from the Treasure Valley were sentenced to prison earlier for their role in the conspiracy. Michael Scott Longhi was sentenced to 188 months in prison; Samantha Jo Tackitt to 151 months; Darin James Bangham to 87 months; and Ashley Marie Armstrong to 51 months.

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