Nampa Meth Mule Collingwood Gets 9 Years

BOISE, ID – Patrick William Collingwood, 39, of Nampa, is headed to federal prison for nine years after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The sentence, handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye, reflects the gravity of Collingwood’s role in funneling narcotics into Idaho.

Collingwood’s operation wasn’t small-time. Court records show he spent roughly four months as a cross-border courier, hauling methamphetamine and cash between Mexico and Idaho before his arrest on February 19, 2021. A search of his vehicle during that arrest revealed a staggering 15 pounds of methamphetamine, along with 25 marijuana starter plants. Law enforcement also found the tools of the trade – a digital scale and empty plastic baggies – indicating Collingwood wasn’t just holding, but actively repackaging the drugs for street-level sales.

This wasn’t Collingwood’s first brush with the law. He has a history of state convictions, and currently faces separate pending charges in Canyon County for methamphetamine trafficking and in Ada County for possession of a controlled substance. The feds clearly weren’t impressed with his prior record, or the ongoing local cases. The nine-year sentence sends a clear message: running drugs across state lines carries serious consequences.

Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr., announced the sentencing, praising the collaborative effort of multiple agencies. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, and the City County Narcotics Unit – comprised of officers from Caldwell and Canyon County – all played a role in building the case against Collingwood. This wasn’t a solo operation; it was a coordinated takedown.

The prosecution was part of a larger Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, a federal program designed to dismantle major drug trafficking networks. OCDETF utilizes a multi-agency, intelligence-driven approach, pooling resources from federal, state, and local law enforcement to target the highest-level criminals. The funding for the Special Assistant United States Attorney prosecuting the case came via the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, a federal initiative focused on critical drug-trafficking regions.

Idaho is part of the Oregon-Idaho HIDTA, a collaboration of local drug task forces and prosecuting agencies focused on regional drug trafficking organizations operating in Ada, Canyon, Bannock, Kootenai, and Malheur Counties. Collingwood’s conviction is a small victory in a much larger war against the flow of illicit drugs into the Gem State. Following his prison sentence, he’ll face four years of supervised release, a period where his movements will be monitored to ensure he stays off the streets and away from further criminal activity.