Justin D. Whatcott Acting United States Attorney for the District of Idaho | Department of Justice
Three individuals from eastern Idaho have been sentenced to federal prison in separate methamphetamine trafficking cases, according to an announcement by Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott.
Andrea Nichole O’Brien, 38, of Pocatello, received a sentence of 70 months for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Law enforcement officers stopped O’Brien for a traffic violation and used a trained narcotics dog that detected drugs in the vehicle. Officers found 106.3 grams of methamphetamine under the driver’s seat and a loaded Glock 43 handgun in the driver’s door. Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ordered O’Brien to serve five years of supervised release after her prison term. O’Brien pleaded guilty in May 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott said, “I commend the Pocatello Police Department for their investigation that led to the charges in this case.” Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoie Laggis prosecuted the case.
In another case, Curtis Lee Campbell, 40, of American Falls, was sentenced to 143 months for distributing methamphetamine. Court records show Campbell sold methamphetamine on three occasions between April and June 2024, totaling 63.09 grams. The court determined he was a career offender due to at least two prior felony convictions for controlled substance offenses. Judge Winmill also ordered three years of supervised release following his sentence; Campbell pleaded guilty in May 2025.
Whatcott stated: “I commend the Pocatello Police Department, the Idaho State Police, the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration for their investigation which led to the charges in this case.” Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoie Laggis prosecuted.
Jessica Dona Elison, 44, of Pocatello, was sentenced to 60 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court records, Elison traveled out-of-state to obtain drugs from her supplier before returning to Idaho with them concealed in her vehicle. After her car broke down in Pocatello and she transferred drugs into another vehicle, law enforcement discovered a bag containing 281.53 grams of methamphetamine and nearly 69 grams of marijuana during a search.
Judge Winmill also ordered Elison five years’ supervised release after her prison term; she pleaded guilty in May 2025.
Whatcott added: “I commend the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, and the BADGES Task Force...for their investigation which led to the charges in this case.” Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoie Laggis prosecuted.
All three cases were handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) funded by both Eastern Idaho Partnership (EIP) and the State of Idaho—a coalition comprising local city and county officials working together across eastern Idaho communities.
The EIP SAUSA program enables law enforcement agencies in eastern Idaho access to federal prosecution resources through dedicated prosecutors who can pursue federal charges against violent or armed criminals as well as drug traffickers—often resulting in longer sentences than those typically imposed by state courts.
Launched in January 2016, this program has indicted approximately 247 defendants so far; about three-quarters faced drug trafficking charges specifically under this initiative since its inception.
