Twenty Indicted For Conspiring To Traffic Meth In Southwest Idaho
BOISE, Idaho - - Lena Kettle, 46, of Caldwell, Idaho, Heidi Aguila, 34, of Middleton, Idaho, and Kenneth Jones, 47, of Elverta, California, appeared in federal court on May 28, 2013, on an 89-count federal indictment charging them and 17 others with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; interstate transportation in aid of racketeering; and use of a communication device in drug trafficking. The indictment was returned on May 16, 2013, and was unsealed by the court on May 22.
In addition to Kettle, Aguila and Jones, the defendants named in the federal indictment are:
- Jason Lee Holmberg, 38, of Middleton, Idaho
- Patrick Siemsen, 55, of Nampa, Idaho
- Ute Hornak, 47, of Nampa, Idaho
- Doreen Obrien, 44, of Caldwell, Idaho
- Jerry Holmberg, 64, of Marsing, Idaho
- John Odenwalt, 33, of Nampa, Idaho
- Randi Seferos, 24, of Boise, Idaho
- Seanna Holmberg, 26, of Caldwell, Idaho
- Crystal Clark, 47, of Fruitland, Idaho
- Steven Richard, 41, of Boise, Idaho
- Robbie Gallegos, 42, of Boise, Idaho
- Adrea Smith, 38, of LaGrande, Oregon
- Randy Beal, 58, of Caldwell, Idaho
- Cynthia Prado, 31, of Boise, Idaho
- Andrew Polney, 51, of Boise, Idaho
- Henry Horne, 65, of Boise, Idaho
- David Echevarria, 48, of Boise, Idaho
Fourteen of the defendants have been arraigned in federal court since the indictment was returned. A trial date has been set for July 2, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise. Defendants Jason Holmberg, Siemsen, Obrien, Jerry Holberg and David Echevarria have not yet made their initial appearances, and no dates have been set.
The indictment alleges that between May 2012 and April 18, 2013, the defendants conspired together to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing detectable amounts of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that on various dates beginning in March 2013, one or more of the defendants traveled at various times between Idaho and California with the intent to distribute the proceeds of the unlawful activity. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the indictment alleges that one or more of the defendants used communication facilities-a telephone-to facilitate and commit the offenses.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine carries a minimum term of 10 years up to life in prison, a maximum fine of $10 million, and up to five years of supervised release. The charge of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, depending on the amount of drugs possessed, is punishable by up to 40 years in prison, a maximum fine of $5 million, and up to four years of supervised release. The charge of interstate travel or transportation in aid of a racketeering enterprise, per count, is punishable by up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. The charge of using a communication facility in furtherance of drug trafficking is punishable by up to four years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.
The indictment is the result of a joint investigation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF), led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, in conjunction with the Nampa Police Department and the Boise Police Department. Other federal agencies participating in the OCDETF program include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Bureau of Land Management, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’(ICE) Homeland Security (HSI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Marshals Service.
The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
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.
