Joshua D. Hurwit U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho
Ricardo Rodriguez, a 61-year-old resident of Ontario, Oregon, has been sentenced to 155 months in federal prison for his involvement in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit.
Court records indicate that Rodriguez was part of a drug trafficking organization based in eastern Oregon. He supplied methamphetamine to co-conspirators for redistribution in Idaho, distributing around 20 pounds weekly.
A search warrant executed on January 24, 2024, at Rodriguez's home uncovered an unlawfully possessed .40 caliber firearm, several thousand dollars in cash, hundreds of fentanyl pills, and an ounce of methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford ordered Rodriguez to serve five years of supervised release after completing his prison term.
"This is another example of our law enforcement partners working together to ensure that drug traffickers are held accountable for distributing controlled substances in our communities," stated U.S. Attorney Hurwit. "Traffickers will not evade prosecution for dealing drugs here in Idaho simply because they live across state lines."
David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division, remarked: "Methamphetamine traffickers like Mr. Rodriguez profit from the pain they cause selling poison to our neighbors." He expressed satisfaction that the DEA and its partners could mitigate the threat posed by Rodriguez.
Nampa Police Sergeant Shane Huston highlighted the importance of teamwork: "This case started in our community but crossed many jurisdictional boundaries, including the state line into Oregon." He emphasized effective partnerships as key to success against career criminals.
The investigation involved collaboration between various agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration and local police departments from Nampa, Boise, and Meridian. The Oregon High Desert Drug Task Force also played a significant role.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse prosecuted the case as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative aimed at disrupting high-level criminal networks through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
The High Desert Drug Task Force focuses on dismantling drug trafficking organizations using intelligence-driven strategies supported by multi-agency cooperation within the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
