Boise Meth Dealer Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison

BOISE – Quentin Craig Padilla, 32, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to 105 months in prison for distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

Padilla’s sentence will run concurrent with a state sentence he is currently serving. Following his prison sentence, Padilla will be placed on five years of supervised release. Padilla was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 12, 2016 and entered his guilty plea on July 6, 2016.

On April 7, 2015, Padilla sold 31.9 grams of actual methamphetamine to a confidential human source. Three days later, Padilla was involved in a high speed chase with officers at speeds estimated at over 100 miles per hour after being pulled over for a traffic violation. Shortly after officers ended the pursuit, members of the public began contacting the police about abandoned firearms and ammunition around the community and in the vicinity of where Padilla had been driving. Several firearms, including an AK-47, were recovered.

Padilla has had six prior felony convictions for crimes which include aggravated assault, possession of methamphetamine, eluding officers, and unlawfully possessing a weapon. He is a member of the South Side Clica gang and associated with other Sureno gangs including Brown Magic Clica, East Side Locos and Southside 13.

This case was investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force, Boise Police Department and Ada County Sheriff’s Office. 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 case was 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.

Padilla’s extensive history of violent and felony crimes, coupled with his affiliation with notorious gangs, highlights the ongoing struggle to combat organized crime in Idaho. Law enforcement agencies will continue to work together to dismantle these gangs and bring justice to those involved.