POCATELLO – Jessi Manuel Sanchez, 29, a Mexican national, was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court in Pocatello to 63 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Sanchez to serve four years of supervised release following his prison term. Sanchez pleaded guilty to the charge on October 26, 2011.

According to the plea agreement, on several dates, including January 7, 2010, Sanchez arranged to sell an ounce of methamphetamine to another individual in Bonneville County, Idaho. Sanchez admitted that he distributed 50.46 total grams – or 1.77 ounces – of actual methamphetamine throughout a series of drug transactions.

Co-defendant Omar Ortega, formerly residing in Washington state, remains a fugitive.

The case was investigated by Idaho State Police, Idaho Falls Police Department, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).