Fort Hall Man Pleads Not Guilty to Distribution of Marijuana

POCATELLO – Tony Saiz, Sr., 52, of Fort Hall, Idaho, appeared in U.S. District Court today to answer a federal indictment charging him with distribution of marijuana, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Saiz pleaded not guilty.  A jury trial is scheduled before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill on February 16, 2016.  Saiz was indicted by the federal grand jury in Pocatello on November 24, 2015.

The indictment alleges that on five dates in May 2015, Saiz distributed marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(D).

The charge of distribution of marijuana is punishable by up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and at least two years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Fort Hall Police Department, the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Blackfoot Police Department K-9 Unit, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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.