Orofino Woman Sentenced Federally for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

COEUR D’ALENE—Robin L. Spencer, 51, of Orofino, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court in Coeur d’Alene to 24 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Spencer to serve three years of supervised release following her prison term, forfeit assets derived from the drug trafficking offense, and perform 150 hours of community service. She pled guilty to the charge on June 19, 2012.

At sentencing, Judge Lodge noted Spencer’s lack of prior criminal history and her post-arrest rehabilitation work.

According to court testimony, Spencer admitted that she assisted in the distribution of methamphetamine by using her house as a stash house and helping distribute methamphetamine. On January 18, 2012, a federal grand jury in Coeur d’Alene returned an indictment charging Spencer and three co-defendants with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distributing methamphetamine in Idaho.

Co-defendant April L. Lauby, also of Orofino, was sentenced on July 17 to 12 months plus one day in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Co-defendant Jacob Custodio, of Apple Valley, California, pled guilty on July 16 to distributing methamphetamine. Sentencing is set for October 9 at the federal courthouse in Coeur d’Alene.

Co-defendant John Gilbert Rincon, also of Orofino, was arraigned in federal court on August 10. A jury trial is set for October 9.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office, and Idaho State Police.

Coeur d’Alene Man Indicted for Unlawfully Possessing Firearm

COEUR D’ALENE—Cody James Freer, 26, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Coeur d’Alene for unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

The indictment alleges that on or about June 10, 2012, Freer possessed a Glock .40 pistol. Freer, who had previously been convicted of a felony drug offense punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year, is prohibited from possessing firearms. The government is seeking forfeiture of the firearm.

The charge of unlawfully possessing a firearm is punishable by not more than 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Coeur d’Alene Police Department and the North Idaho Violent Crime Task Force (NIVCTF). NIVCTF members include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Idaho State Police, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office, Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, Coeur d’Alene Police Department, Post Falls Police Department, and the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police Department. The NIVCTF investigates a myriad of violent crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, felonious assaults, and drug trafficking.

An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity. It is not evidence. The person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Illegal Alien Sentenced to 97 Months in Federal Prison

BOISE — Julio Cesar Cardelas–Martinez, 37, an illegal alien living in Jerome, Idaho, was sentenced today to 97 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Cardelas–Martinez to serve four years of supervised release following his prison term and forfeit $20,000 in cash proceeds. Cardelas–Martinez will be deported to Mexico following his release from prison. He pled guilty on July 5, 2011.

According to court documents, Cardelas–Martinez began selling methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana in December 2010. He received the methamphetamine from sources in Richfield, Idaho, and conspired with others to sell it in the Magic Valley. Cardelas–Martinez was arrested in February 2011. Co–defendant Noel Diaz was sentenced on September 15, 2011, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Olson commended the joint investigation by the Idaho State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).