BOISE - U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today that Fernando Manuel Soares, 53, of Wendell, Idaho, was sentenced today for distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge sentenced Soares this afternoon to 72 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to the charge on Oct. 21, 2013. Judge Lodge fined Soares $1,000, and ordered him to forfeit $10,000 in proceeds of the offense and $2,292 in seized currency.
According to court proceedings, Soares sold methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent on March 5 and March 19, 2013. On May 21, 2013, Soares made arrangements to sell another ounce of methamphetamine to the undercover agent. Soares was stopped on his way to complete the transaction, and found to have 36 grams of methamphetamine in his vehicle. A search warrant was served at his residence in Wendell, and an additional 437.3 grams of methamphetamine, a set of digital scales, and $2,292 in U.S. currency was found in Soares’ bedroom.
The case was investigated by the Gooding County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Drug Enforcement Administration.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
