02-21-12 Rupert Gang Member Sentenced for Distributing Meth
and Possessing Sawed-off Shotgun
This information was released this afternoon by the US Attorney
District of Idaho regarding a case investigated by Boise Police and
the DEA. This case is a successful example of local officers and
federal agents working together to keep our communities
safe. We at Boise PD appreciate the constant cooperation of
our federal law enforcement partners.
CONTACT: PAMELA BEARG
Public Information Officer
CHRISTIAN NAFZGER
Assistant United States Attorney
(208) 334-1211
Rupert Gang Member Sentenced for
Distributing Meth and Possessing Sawed-off Shotgun
BOISE - Jose Luis Arteaga, 26, of
Rupert, Idaho, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison followed
by four years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute 50
grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of an unregistered
sawed-off shotgun, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S.
District Judge Edward J. Lodge also imposed a $1,000 fine. Arteaga
pleaded guilty to the charges on December 5, 2011.
According to the plea agreement, Arteaga
admitted that between September 1 and December 15, 2010, he
conspired with others to distribute in excess of 50 grams of
methamphetamine. When interviewed by law enforcement, Arteaga
admitted to distributing methamphetamine in Burley and Rupert,
Idaho. He stated that he infrequently used methamphetamine, but was
addicted to the money he made from selling the drug. Arteaga also
admitted to possessing a sawed-off shotgun, which he sold to an
undercover police officer.
Arteaga previously admitted to law
enforcement that he was a member of the Southside Sureño Trece gang
in Rupert and Burley, Idaho.
Two co-conspirators were sentenced
earlier on related drug charges. Rigaberto Moreno Sanchez, of
Rupert, was sentenced on September 12, 2011, to 168 months in
prison. Leaha Rivera, also of Rupert, was sentenced on October 11
to 108 months. Abel Ortega, of Burley, Idaho, pled guilty on
December 6 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He is
scheduled
to be sentenced in federal court on March 19.
"Methamphetamine is a dangerous,
addictive drug that affects all of Idaho's communities, from our
biggest cities to more rural areas," said Olson. "This office and
its law enforcement partners at the federal, state and local level
will use all available tools to ensure that methamphetamine
traffickers are caught and punished."
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) and the Boise Police Department.