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.

Washington Man Sentenced in Idaho Federal Court for Distributing Meth

COEUR D’ALENE—Severiano V. Valle, 49, of Royal City, Washington, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Coeur d’Alene to 87 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Valle to serve four years of supervised release and pay a $5,000 fine. He pleaded guilty on January 3, 2012.

According to the plea agreement, Valle was stopped by the Kootenai County Interdiction Team on February 8, 2011. A dog specially trained to detect the presence of drugs alerted law enforcement to 449 grams of methamphetamine in the trunk of Valle’s vehicle. Valle admitted that he was taking the methamphetamine to another person.

The case was investigated by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office 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 assault, and drug trafficking.