Wendell and Twin Falls Men Sentenced in Separate Drug Conspiracies

BOISE – Oscar Javier Rosas, 23, of Wendell, and Michael Ray Stone, 25, of Twin Falls, faced federal court this week for their roles in separate drug trafficking conspiracies. Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge meted out a 33-month prison term to Rosas for his involvement in the methamphetamine conspiracy, while Stone received a 51-month sentence for distributing the illegal substance.

The cases were aggressively prosecuted by a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney supported by the Idaho extension of the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. Established in 1988, HIDTA coordinates federal, state, and local efforts to combat drug trafficking in critical regions.

In Ada County, the HIDTA has been instrumental in combating regional drug organizations in Ada, Canyon, and Malheur Counties. The program’s recent success includes facilitating the prosecution of 39 drug trafficking cases that led to 51 convictions and sentences for drug-related crimes.

In June 2015, the Oregon-Idaho HIDTA, alongside local prosecutors and the Idaho U.S. Attorney’s Office, hired a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney to specifically target regional drug trafficking organizations in the Treasure Valley area. This collaboration has been pivotal in ensuring that cases within HIDTA areas are federally prosecuted.

These sentencing outcomes underscore the joint efforts of federal and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors dedicated to keeping Idaho communities safe from drug crime. The HIDTA program continues to be a cornerstone in this fight, as evidenced by its significant impact on reducing drug trafficking in critical regions across the nation.

RELATED: Wendell Man Admits Role in Meth Ring