⏱ 2 min read
Between April and August 2024, Mariah Dawn Russell, a 30-year-old from Fort Hall, Idaho, sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to an undercover agent on four occasions in Bannock, Bingham, and Bonneville Counties. Russell’s dealings ultimately led to her arrest in early October 2024, after she attempted to purchase 1,000 fentanyl pills for distribution. The total haul from her operations included approximately three grams of methamphetamine and over 760 grams of fentanyl.
Russell pleaded guilty to the charge on December 16, 2024, and was subsequently sentenced to 80 months in federal prison. Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered her to serve five years of supervised release following her prison term. Her co-defendant, Walker Cates, received an 84-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release on May 21, 2025.
The investigation was conducted through the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, which coordinates and funds multiagency drug enforcement initiatives. The BADGES Task Force, comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, played a crucial role in the case. U.S. Attorney Bart Davis commended the efforts of the task force, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Fort Hall Police Department.
The sentence reflects the severity of Russell’s crimes and the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in Idaho. The case highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies in disrupting and dismantling drug distribution networks.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: fentanyl
- Location: ID
- Source: DOJ Press Release
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Drug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug Trafficking