Creston Dale Kindness, a 42-year-old resident of Fort Hall, has been sentenced to over eight years in federal prison for his involvement in fentanyl distribution. This was confirmed in an announcement by Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott, highlighting the legal actions following Kindness' arrest in January 2024.
Court documents reveal that officers observed Kindness driving rapidly, leading to a prolonged chase. The pursuit concluded when Kindness' vehicle got stuck in the snow, after which he was apprehended and taken into custody. While in custody, a sheriff’s deputy noticed Kindness making a video call to a female friend during which he mentioned discarding a bag with her name on it out of the car window. He instructed her to retrieve it. Police officers located the bag, which contained a substantial sum of money alongside 350 grams of fentanyl pills.
On June 24, 2024, Kindness admitted to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Alongside the prison term, Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye mandated a five-year supervised release for Kindness post-incarceration.
Whatcott praised the collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, Bingham, Blackfoot, Shelley Investigation Unit, Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Hall Police Department, and Idaho State Police. The prosecution of this case was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Haycock.
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