Justin D. Whatcott Acting United States Attorney for the District of Idaho | Department of Justice
Rito Salazar, a 59-year-old resident of Nampa, has been sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison for methamphetamine distribution. The sentence was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott and handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye, who also imposed five years of supervised release following the prison term.
Court records indicate that Salazar orchestrated a monthly operation where he sent couriers to California to purchase significant quantities of methamphetamine, which were then transported back to Idaho for redistribution among local street dealers. Salazar's criminal record includes previous convictions for drug trafficking at the state level.
"This investigation is an excellent example of the success achieved when local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office partner to disrupt multi-state drug traffickers," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott. He emphasized that as Idaho's population grows, so does access to larger supplies of drugs, making it crucial to hold traffickers accountable.
The case was built on a collaborative investigation involving the Boise Police Department’s Boise Area Narcotic Drug Interdiction Team (BANDIT), the Canyon County City and County Narcotics Unit (CCNU), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Sacramento Field Office’s Fresno Resident Agency. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey A. Manweiler prosecuted the case.
This prosecution was part of efforts by a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired through the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to tackle gang-related crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership consists of elected officials from southwest Idaho working together on regional growth issues.
