Idaho Falls Man Sentenced to More than Ten Years in Prison

POCATELLO – Benito Mora Jr., 38, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was sentenced today to 121 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Mora to serve four years of supervised release following his release from prison. Mora pleaded guilty to the charge on May 24, 2016.

Blackfoot Police arrested Mora on January 10, 2016, during a traffic stop.  Mora had 291.91 grams of pure methamphetamine, 6.20 grams of cocaine, and two handguns in his possession at the time of his arrest.  Mora was also under investigation in Idaho Falls after he sold 11.18 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in 2015.  Mora admitted to conspiring with others to acquire methamphetamine from suppliers in Arizona, Mexico, and elsewhere for the purpose of selling it in eastern Idaho.

The case was investigated by the Idaho Falls and Blackfoot Police Departments, the Bonneville and Bingham County Sheriffs’ Offices, the Idaho State Police, the Bingham and Bonneville County Prosecutors’ offices, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Eastern Idaho Partnership and the State of Idaho to bolster ongoing efforts to prosecute regional drug trafficking, gun and gang violence, internet based crimes against children, and other serious crimes with a federal nexus.  The Eastern Idaho Partnership is a collaboration of elected officials and law enforcement from 12 counties and 18 cities across eastern Idaho, in partnership with the Idaho Department of Correction and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.