Pocatello Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine and Illegal Possession of Firearms

POCATELLO – Christopher Keeling, 30, of Pocatello, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms by a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Keeling was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 25, 2015. 

According to the plea agreement, on various occasions between October 2014, and June 9, 2015, Keeling distributed in excess of fifty grams of actual methamphetamine to a confidential informant and undercover officer in Pocatello and Idaho Falls, Idaho.  On June 9, 2015, law enforcement served a search warrant on the defendant’s residence in Pocatello, Idaho.  Prior to that date, the defendant had been convicted of felony possession of a controlled substance.  During the search warrant, officers found the defendant to be in possession of several handguns and shotguns.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine is punishable by ten years to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1,000,000.  The charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is punishable by up to ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Keeling is scheduled to be sentenced on May 23, 2016, before Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge in Pocatello.

The case was investigated by the Idaho State Police, Pocatello Police Department, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.