Payette Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

BOISE - John Vernon McLeod, 36, of Payette, Idaho, pleaded guilty yesterday in United States District Court to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  McLeod was indicted on September 9, 2015.

According to the plea agreement, McLeod and codefendant Ross Eugene Miller conspired to distribute methamphetamine in the state of Idaho between May 28, 2015, and June 18, 2015.  The defendant and his codefendant arranged for two separate deliveries of methamphetamine in the Payette and Fruitland, Idaho, area.  Investigating officers discovered the conspiracy and were able to intervene.  

The charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine is punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years or more than forty years, a term of supervised release of at least four years, and a maximum fine of $5,000,000.     

McLeod is scheduled to be sentenced on July 19, 2016, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

Codefendant, Ross Eugene Miller, 30, of Fruitland, Idaho, was sentenced on March 7, 2016, to 36 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy.  Judge Winmill also ordered Miller to three years of supervised release and to forfeit $1,600 in drug proceeds.  Miller pleaded guilty on December 18, 2015. 

The case was investigated by the High Desert Task Force, a collaboration of law enforcement agencies from Payette County Sheriff’s Office, Payette Police Department, Fruitland Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Weiser Police Department, Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, Ontario Police Department, and the Nyssa Police Department.  

The case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Board.  The Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Board is a collaboration of local law enforcement drug task forces and prosecuting agencies dedicated to addressing regional drug trafficking organizations that operate in Ada, Canyon, and Malheur County.