Pocatello Pair Plead Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking Charges

POCATELLO – Lataya Anderson and Matthew Toombs, of Pocatello, pleaded guilty this week to possession of a methamphetamine with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced.  Anderson and Toombs were indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello on May 24, 2017.

According to court records, in March of this year, Anderson and Toombs sold just over 14 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant working with police investigators.

On April 27, 2017, Anderson and Toombs were arrested in Pocatello by the Idaho State Police   Anderson had a vial containing approximately 3 grams of methamphetamine in her pocket.  In Anderson and Toombs’ vehicle, police found 23 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale with residue, a Phoenix Arms .22 caliber handgun, a drug ledger, approximately 2.8 grams of marijuana, small clean plastic baggies and a glass drug pipe. 

The charge for possession of a methamphetamine with intent to distribute is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1,000,000 and at least three years of supervised release. 

Sentencing is set for January 18, 2018, before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

 The case was investigated through the combined efforts of the Bannock County Prosecutor’s Office, the Idaho State Police and the Eastern Idaho Partnership.  The Eastern Idaho Partnership is a collaborative effort among local communities, law enforcement, the State of Idaho, and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho.  The Partners combine efforts to fund and support a Special Assistant United States Attorney, or “SAUSA.”  The SAUSA, Bryan Wheat, works with local prosecutors and law enforcement to prosecute serious local crimes in federal court.  The Partnership focuses its efforts on regional drug trafficking, gun and gang violence, internet based crimes against children, and other serious crimes with a federal nexus that affect the southeast Idaho region.