Federal Judge Convicts Rexburg Man of Distributing Meth and Violating Federal Firearms Laws

POCATELLO—Noe Munguia-Diaz, a/k/a Juan Ernesto Medina-Munguia, 35, of Rexburg, Idaho, was found guilty today in federal court in Pocatello of six counts of distributing methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and two counts of unlawfully possessing firearms, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Munguia-Diaz appeared before the Hon. Terry J. Hatter, Jr., Senior U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California. He waived his right to trial by a jury in August 2013.

During the two-day trial, Judge Hatter heard evidence that Munguia-Diaz sold methamphetamine to other individuals on six occasions between March 23, 2011 and October 19, 2012. During one of the sales, Munguia-Diaz also sold a handgun. Judge Hatter also heard evidence that on March 4, 2013, when the defendant was arrested, Rexburg Police officers found over $4,500 in the possession of the defendant and his female passenger, evidence that Munguia-Diaz had deposited that day a total of $15,000 between two different banks, and a loaded handgun. Later than night, pursuant to a search warrant, officers recovered approximately one ounce of methamphetamine from a heating vent in Mungua-Diaz’s bedroom. Munguia-Diaz admitted to officers that he had methamphetamine in his house and that the firearm in the car belonged to him.

Munguia-Diaz is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Hatter on December 3, 2013, at the federal courthouse in Pocatello. He faces a minimum term of five up to 40 years in prison, a maximum fine of $5 million, and at least four years of supervised release. Munguia-Diaz will forfeit the two firearms he unlawfully possessed and $31,202 as proceeds from his criminal offenses.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance by Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, Blackfoot Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Rexburg Police Department, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).