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Press Release

Three men plead guilty to distributing methamphetamine

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

COEUR D’ALENE – Andrew Byers, 27, of Craigmont, Idaho, Brice Heimgartner, 25, of Clarkston, Washington, and Salvador Saucedo, 27, of Milton-Freewater, Oregon, pleaded guilty this week to federal drug charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael Gonzalez announced. Byers, Heimgartner and Saucedo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Byers also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Federal grand juries indicted the men in February and May 2017.

 

According to court documents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Quad Cities Drug Task Force began investigating methamphetamine distribution in Lewiston, Clarkston, and within the boundaries of the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. During their investigation, law enforcement officers seized over 400 grams of pure methamphetamine, heroin and cash, during searches and arrests occurring in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. The Nez Perce County Prosecutor’s Office coordinated with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to charge two of the men and bring them into federal custody. “My office will continue to work with the Quad Cities Drug Task Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to aggressively prosecute drug dealers who harm our community,” said Nez Perce County Prosecutor, Justin Coleman.

 

Sentencing for Byers, Heimgartner, and Saucedo is set for September 26 and 27, 2017, before Senior United States District Judge Edward J. Lodge. Co-defendants, Robin Rose and Kyle Seidel, each 31 and from Lewiston, Idaho, are set for trial on July 25, 2017.

 

Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine is punishable by at least ten years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, a $10,000,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.

 

Several federal, state and local agencies participated in the investigation and prosecution, including: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nez Perce County Prosecutor’s Office, Lewiston Police Department, Idaho State Police – District 2, Nez Perce Tribal Police, Blue Mountain Enforcement Narcotics Team, and the Quad Cities Drug Task Force.

Updated June 29, 2017

Topic
Drug Trafficking
Component