Related Federal Cases
BOISE – Five Men Sentenced to Prison for Methamphetamine Ring
In a major blow to the Treasure Valley’s methamphetamine trade, five men were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a large-scale trafficking ring. Jose Reynaldo Cardenas, Jr., 29, of Porterville, California; Angelo Angel Rivas, 41, of Nampa, Idaho; Lance Ryan Ward, 44, of Boise, Idaho; Joshua James Alford, 34, of Garden Valley, Idaho; and Rodolfo Hernandez Gonzalez, 33, of Nampa, Idaho, were sentenced to prison for their involvement in the trafficking operation.
Cardenas, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of distributing methamphetamine, admitted to distributing 221.5 grams of pure methamphetamine to an undercover officer in Caldwell, Idaho on November 23 and again on December 21, 2015. He was arrested on February 23, 2016, and found to be in possession of a loaded firearm. Cardenas advised law enforcement that he was part of a large-scale drug trafficking organization which was responsible for the transportation of twenty to thirty pounds of methamphetamine every three days for the past two years. Judge Lodge sentenced him to serve 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit $100,000 in cash proceeds.
Rivas, who pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, was arrested in Boise after he traveled to Mexico to pick up a shipment of methamphetamine and heroin. Law enforcement found one and a half pounds of methamphetamine and one pound of heroin hidden in the gas tank of his vehicle. Judge Shubb sentenced Rivas to serve ten years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit $15,000 in cash proceeds.
Ward and Alford, who pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine, admitted to purchasing a pound of methamphetamine from a co-conspirator and then selling half of that pound to an undercover officer. Ward was sentenced to serve 11 years in prison, while Alford was sentenced to serve ten years in prison. Both were sentenced to five years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $100,000 in cash proceeds.
Gonzalez, who pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine, admitted to selling two ounces of methamphetamine to an undercover detective in Nampa, Idaho. Gonzalez was sentenced to serve five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit $1,200 in cash proceeds.
The investigation into the methamphetamine ring was a joint effort between the Boise Police Department’s Narcotics Unit and the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The 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; and the Ada County Sheriff’s Office.
The sentencing of these five men marks a significant victory in the fight against methamphetamine trafficking in the Treasure Valley. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
Key Facts
- State: Idaho
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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