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Press Release

Multi-Agency Cooperation Nets Drugs, Stolen Vehicles and Guns in North Idaho

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Idaho

COEUR D’ALENE – This week, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement officers made several separate arrests leading to the seizure of methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, cash, firearms, and stolen vehicles, in northern Idaho.  Three of those arrested, Blair Ty Murphy, 40, of Lewiston, Idaho, Darin Taylor, 55, of Post Falls, Idaho, and Hugo Chavez Acevedo, 34, of Pullman, Washington, were arrested on federal charges.  The defendants were indicted on August 18, 2015, by a federal grand jury sitting in Coeur d’Alene.

In separate indictments, the defendants stand charged as follows:

Blair Ty Murphy: conspiracy to distribute, possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of methamphetamine.  The charges are punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to forty years in prison, a maximum fine of $5,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release.

Darin Kyle Taylor: possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine.  The charges are punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to forty years in prison, a maximum fine of $5,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release.

Hugo Chavez Acevedo: possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin.  The methamphetamine charge is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to forty years in prison, a maximum fine of $5,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release.  The heroin charge is punishable by up to twenty years in prison, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release.

The defendants were arraigned yesterday in U.S. District Court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mikel H. Williams where they entered not guilty pleas, and the cases were set for jury trial in Coeur d’Alene on October 20, 2015.

Representatives of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Idaho State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Nez Perce Tribal Police, and Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office participated in the investigation and arrests.  

U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson, commended those involved in these investigations stating, “This collaborative effort by federal, tribal, and state authorities has disrupted the flow of dangerous drugs that compromise the safety and well-being of our families and communities.”

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.

 

Updated August 21, 2015

Topic
Drug Trafficking
Component