Mexican National Sentenced for Drug Crime in Connection with Aryan Knights Investigation

BOISE—U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today that Rigoberto Carrasco, 37, a Mexican national, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge to 110 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

Carrasco pleaded guilty to the charge on April 10, 2013. In court, Carrasco admitted that he became involved in the ongoing distribution of methamphetamine and that he agreed to assist with that distribution. Carrasco admitted that he and others were bringing methamphetamine into Idaho from outside the state. Carrasco sold the methamphetamine to other co-defendants who then distributed the methamphetamine in Idaho. Five other defendants charged in the conspiracy have already been sentenced, including Jesse Delgado, to 168 months; Lisa Samayoa, to 135 months; Nina Lucas, to 130 months; Darin Melton, to 87 months; and Omar Riveroll-Hernandez, to 60 months in federal prison.

Carrasco’s case is part of the Aryan Knights investigation in which 23 individuals were charged as a result of a long-term investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force. The investigation began when the task force focused on illegal drug distribution by the Aryan Knights, a gang active both in prison and on the streets throughout Idaho. Through the investigation, law enforcement agents identified Aryan Knights gang members who were trafficking methamphetamine, as well as associates of the gang who were the source of that methamphetamine.

All 23 defendants have pleaded guilty, 18 have been sentenced, and five are awaiting sentencing.

The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force is comprised of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Boise Police Department; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and Idaho Department of Probation and Parole. The joint investigation also included the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a cooperative law enforcement effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and U.S. Marshals Service.

The Aryan Knights cases are being prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the state of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is composed of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit treasurevalleypartners.org.