Sixth Conspirator in Treasure Valley Drug Distribution Ring Sentenced

BOISE – Isela Garza, 30, of Nampa, Idaho was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in the Treasure Valley, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge ordered that Garza serve four years of supervised release following her release from prison. Garza was indicted on December 8, 2015, in a superseding indictment and entered her guilty plea on August 17, 2016.

The drug conspiracy was led by Stacy Duane Wilfong, 40, of Nampa, Idaho and involved 11 people. Wilfong was sentenced on October 4, 2016, to 220 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.  Throughout the course of the investigation, law enforcement officers discovered that Wilfong and his co-conspirators bought and sold methamphetamine, heroin, pills including oxycodone, and a synthetic controlled substance called Alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone, known as "a-PVP," or “bath salts” to individuals throughout the Treasure Valley. Garza obtained methamphetamine from Wilfong and distributed it on his behalf.

In addition to Garza and Wilfong, four other co-conspirators have been sentenced.  Anthony “Tony” Kitchen, 48, was sentenced to 71 months.  Jocelin Jessica Gonzalez, 19, to 40 months and Elizabeth Ann Gaytan, 37, to 100 months.  All three are from Nampa.  Regina Wade, 50, of Boise was sentenced to 41 months.

Two co-defendants have entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing.  Breeannyn Nicole Pederson, 25, of Parma, is scheduled to be sentenced on November 15, 2016, and David Anthony Wales, 31, of Boise, is scheduled to be sentenced on February 22, 2017.  Two other co-defendants are scheduled to enter guilty pleas. Adam William Dillon, 28, of Nampa is scheduled for a plea change on November 22, 2016, and Jason Lee Burgess is scheduled for a plea change on November 16. One co-defendant, John Matthew Caviness, Jr., 34, of Caldwell, is currently set for trial on December 13. 

These cases are the result of a joint investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force and the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force is comprised of federal, state and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Boise Police Department; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and Idaho Department of Probation and Parole.  The Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), includes the cooperative law enforcement efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and U.S. Marshals Service.  The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

These cases are being prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes.  The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth.  For more information, visit treasurevalleypartners.org.