Boise Woman is Final Defendant Sentenced in Cases Charged Last Fall

BOISE – Khesha Marie Freese, 35, of Boise, was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge Lodge also ordered Freese to serve ten years of supervised release following her prison term and pay $1,750 in restitution. Freese pleaded guilty to the charge in September 2012.

According to the plea agreement, Freese sold varying amounts of methamphetamine on four occasions. On October 5, 2010, Freese sold 15.1 grams of nearly 100% pure methamphetamine to an individual she met at a Nampa, Idaho, gas station for $760. On November 3, 2010, at a store in Nampa, Freese sold 3.23 grams of methamphetamine for $240. On November 8 and 18, 2010, Freese sold a total of 6.62 grams of methamphetamine at her Boise apartment, for $450. At least two other co-conspirators are referenced, but not named, in Freese’s plea agreement. Freese admitted that between October 5, 2010, and November 18, 2010, she knowingly and intentionally conspired with other persons to distribute methamphetamine.

Freese, indicted in November 2011, is an associate of a "Norteño," or Northside, street gang active in the Treasure Valley. Ten other Northside gang members and known associates were indicted in October and November 2011. The indictments were primarily the result of a 14-month investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force. The Boise Police Department's gang unit conducted the investigation of one of the cases. Freese is the last to be sentenced.

"Methamphetamine trafficking by violent street gang members and their associates poses great danger to our communities," said Olson. "This more than five year sentence brings a successful end to the Metro Violent Crimes Task Force’s investigation and this office’s prosecution of eleven Northside gang members. I commend the cooperative Treasure Valley law enforcement effort that produced these convictions and brought swift punishment to those who would poison our communities with this highly addictive drug."

The eleven gang members and associates were prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership, the Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit www.treasurevalleypartners.org.