POCATELLO — Two members of an Eastern Idaho methamphetamine trafficking organization were sentenced in the Gate City Thursday to serve time in a federal prison, according to U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson.

    Samuel Nevarez-Ayon, 26, a Mexican national, formerly living in Rexburg, is to spend 292 months in prison for his leadership role in the conspiracy. In addition, the court ordered that he pay a $4,000 fine, a $100 special assessment fee and the forfeiture of $500,000.

    Nevarez-Ayon plead guilty to the charge of continuing criminal enterprise on December 19, 2012.

    Nicolas Levi Olsen, 30, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison followed by five years of probation. Olsen was also ordered to pay a $500 fine and a $100 special assessment fee. He plead guilty to the charge of aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on January 24, 2013.

     Eight co-defendants were sentenced in March and April of 2013 on related drug trafficking charges. Ricardo Garcia Lopez, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced to 235 months in prison, Alberto Abarca, of Idaho Falls, 130 months, Rafael Ignacio Guerrero, a Mexican national, 42 months, Antonio Javier Mendoza, of Shelley, 96 months, Fabiola Esmerelda Marin Castro, a Mexican national, 36 months, Daniel Quiroz, a Mexican national, 78 months. 

    In addition, Abel Garcia, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced to one month in prison for making a false statement to a bank. Ana Rosa Valdez-Ceja, of Shelley, was sentenced to two years’ probation for money laundering.

    Three co-defendants from Idaho Falls are set for sentencing on September 10. Juan Ortiz, Jr., 28, and Isidoro David Herrera, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine. Everado Tapia Torres, Jr., 31, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.

     The final defendant, Guadalupe Meraz, of Madera, California, is a fugitive, accoring to Olson.

    “Justice is well served by Nevarez-Ayon’s prison sentence of more than 24 years,” Olson said. “For years, he was the pivot point in wholesale methamphetamine trafficking in eastern Idaho. This successful investigation and prosecution demonstrate that federal, state and local law enforcement in Idaho will work together to remove those who bring this dangerously addictive drug to our communities.”

     The charges are the result of a nine-month investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, including the Idaho State Police, Bonneville County Sheriff's Office, Idaho Falls Police Department, Madison County Sheriff's Office, Rexburg Police Department, Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Other federal agencies participating in the OCDETF program include the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service.