BOISE, ID – Justin Gomez, 29, of Barstow, California, is staring down the barrel of a mandatory life sentence after a federal jury found him guilty of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The conviction, handed down late yesterday evening after a two-day trial in Boise, caps a case that exposed a cross-state drug pipeline and a ruthless operation, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael Gonzalez.
The feds say Gomez, along with accomplice Salvador Gonzalez, traveled from Southern California to Boise in September 2015 with a hefty payload of high-purity methamphetamine. Law enforcement, tipped off to the conspiracy, moved in to intercept them. On September 11th, both men were busted in Meridian, Idaho, with over two pounds of the deadly drug in their possession – enough to devastate communities and fuel addiction. This wasn’t a casual exchange; it was a deliberate attempt to flood the streets with poison.
A Boise grand jury indicted both Gomez and Gonzalez in October 2015, charging them with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute. Gonzalez, facing overwhelming evidence, pleaded guilty and received a 120-month prison sentence. Gomez, however, decided to roll the dice and take his chances at trial. It was a gamble that failed spectacularly. The jury didn’t buy his story, and the evidence clearly pointed to his guilt.
Gomez’s past is riddled with felony convictions, including a prior crime of violence, additional drug trafficking offenses, and gang affiliations – a clear pattern of disregard for the law. Crucially, this conviction triggers a mandatory life sentence due to both his prior drug convictions and the quantity of methamphetamine involved – exceeding 500 grams. The courts aren’t messing around with repeat offenders flooding Idaho with this poison.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Ada County Sheriff’s Office. They meticulously built a case, gathering evidence that painted a damning picture of Gomez’s involvement. The prosecution was handled by a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, funded through the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program – a federal initiative designed to target critical drug trafficking regions.
Gomez is scheduled to receive his sentence on July 6, 2017, before Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge. The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program, a collaboration of local and federal agencies, played a vital role in dismantling this operation. This case serves as a stark warning: bring drugs into Idaho, and you’ll face the full weight of the law – and potentially spend the rest of your life paying for it. The streets of Boise, and the people who live here, are a little safer tonight thanks to the work of these dedicated law enforcement professionals.
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- Meth Kingpin Sentenced to 15 Years Behind Bars · Idaho
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- Central Oregon Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison · Oregon
Key Facts
- State: Idaho
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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