KEY FIGURES IN LEWISTON-CLARKSTON METH RING GET LONG SENTENCES

The two key figures in what federal, state and local investigators called a major methamphetamine trafficking operation based in the Lewiston-Clarkston area have received long prison sentences.

Sentenced in federal court in Moscow today were Jose Avila Rubio, 27, of Pasco, Washington, and Estevan Juan Mendoza, 23, of Kennewick, Washington.

Rubio pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

Mendoza pled guilty to possession of 125 grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

According to authorities, Rubio, Mendoza and more than a dozen other defendants distributed large quantities of methamphetamine in the Lewiston-Clarkston area and on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation between October 2002 and February 2005.

The investigation was a cooperative effort of the FBI, the Quad Cities Drug Task Force and the Idaho State Police. The Nez Perce Tribal Police assisted in the arrests.