Idaho Falls Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking

 POCATELLO – Brian Rogers, 43, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr. announced today. Rogers was originally indicted by a federal grand jury on October 15, 2020 and pleaded guilty to the offense on June 30, 2021.

According to court records, on July 21, 2020, officers from Idaho Department of Correction Probation and Parole, with the assistance of the Idaho Falls Police Department, conducted a parole compliance search of Rogers’ Idaho Falls residence. During the search, officers located a quarter of a pound of methamphetamine along with evidence Rogers was selling methamphetamine. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated a firearm that was also located at the residence.

Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Rogers to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Rogers must also serve a sentence in the State of Idaho based on a parole violation.

Acting U.S. Attorney Gonzalez recognized the cooperative efforts of the Idaho Department of Correction Probation and Parole, Idaho Falls Police Department, and ATF, which led to charges. Mr. Gonzalez added, “Idaho is best served when local, state, and federal law enforcement cooperatively work together. This prosecution task force model, strongly supported by eastern Idaho communities and leaders, reduces violent crime. That is the purpose of Idaho’s reinvigorated Project Safe Neighborhoods program and the Eastern Idaho Partnership Special Assistant U.S. Attorney program. My office is pleased to join the communities of southeast Idaho and the State of Idaho in this important endeavor.”

This case was handled by the U.S. Attorney Office’s specially deputized Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA), funded by the Eastern Idaho Partnership (EIP) and the State of Idaho. The EIP is a coalition of local city and county officials in eastern Idaho as well as the Idaho Department of Correction.

The EIP SAUSA program allows law enforcement to utilize the federal criminal justice system – through the EIP SAUSA – to prosecute, convict, and sentence violent, armed criminals and drug traffickers. These criminals often receive stiffer penalties than they might in state courts.

This program was created in January 2016. Since that time, approximately 181 defendants have been indicted by the EIP SAUSA. Of these defendants, 133 have been indicted on drug trafficking charges. The defendants indicted under the program have been sentenced to 7,549 months (approximately 629 years) in federal prison, representing an average prison sentence of 53.53 months (4.46 years). Defendants indicted for drug trafficking offenses serve, on average, approximately 58.92 months (4.91 years) in federal prison.