Caldwell Couple Sentenced to 133 and 96 Months in Federal Prison

BOISE – Michael Paul Lacasse, 48, and Venetia Dawn Trischan, 47, of Caldwell, were sentenced to 133 months and 96 months, respectively, in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.

According to court records, in December 2023, law enforcement learned that Lacasse and Trischan were involved in distributing drugs. Lacasse provided his “customers” a 3x5 card, which contained different types and amounts of illicit controlled substances, and the “customers” could order from this “menu.” Lacasse traveled to California and Washington to purchase fentanyl and concealed the drugs in the engine of his truck. Trischan weighed and packaged drugs and maintained a ledger of the transactions.

On January 11, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Lacasse and Trischan’s shared residence and storage unit. In the residence, law enforcement found five firearms, a homemade suppressor attachment, ammunition, a detailed drug ledger, and approximately $21,000 cash. A search of the storage unit revealed six firearms, ammunition, and pounds of illegal narcotics, including methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, ketamine, MDMA, and mushrooms. In total, Lacasse and Trischan intended to distribute 2,919.88 grams of methamphetamine, 1,054.76 grams of heroin, and 2,499.48 grams of cocaine.

Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Meridian Police Department, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kane Venecia prosecuted the case.

This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with funds provided by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney position.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

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