Three Idaho Falls men sentenced to prison for drug trafficking
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IDAHO FALLS — Three Idaho Falls men have been sentenced in federal court for drug trafficking.
According to the Idaho U.S. Attorney’s Office, three separate drug distribution cases in eastern Idaho were resolved with prison sentences after being prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Zoie Laggis.
Jesus Rosas
Jesus Rosas, 45, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced on Nov. 25 to 55 months, or four and a half years, in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Rosas to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Rosas pleaded guilty to the charge in September 2024.
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, on Jan. 8, Rosas was pulled over for a traffic violation by Idaho Falls Police. The passenger, later identified as 29-year-old Wyatt Landon, had several warrants for his arrest and ran from the car, later shooting at an officer with a handgun.
The officer returned fire, striking Landon, who ultimately died from the resulting injuries.
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During the traffic stop, officers removed Rosas from the car and located a loaded handgun next to the driver’s seat. While removing him, officers saw him reaching in the direction of the gun, according to the release.
Officers searched Rosas before placing him in a patrol vehicle. During the search, officers discovered a black bag in Rosas’ jacket pocket, which contained a glass pipe, small clear bags, and two bags containing 35.9 grams of methamphetamine.
Rosas’s criminal history includes five prior state felony convictions: delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of controlled substances, grand theft, and burglary. Records with the Idaho Department of Correction show that he has suspected gang ties.
Brandon Luce
Brandon Luce, 43, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced on Nov. 21 to 37 months, or three years and one month in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ordered Luce to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Luce pleaded guilty to the offense in August 2024.
According to the news release, in early 2022, Luce, on two occasions, sold someone a combined 83.24 grams of methamphetamine.
Luce told the buyer that there was only one pound left in town, and they would have to go get more.
Luce’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for possession of controlled substances and misdemeanor convictions for driving offenses, possessing burglary tools, and battery.
Darren Payne
Darren Payne, 51, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced on Nov. 25 to 24 months, or two years, in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Payne to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Payne pleaded guilty to the charge in July 2024.
According to the news release, on Jan. 18, law enforcement served a search warrant on Payne’s home and car.
Payne was located alone in the main bedroom, where he attempted to run from the bedroom to the bathroom and swallow a bag of methamphetamine but ultimately spit it out.
During the search, officers found a plastic bag containing hundreds of light blue M30 pills tucked inside the bottom of a shoe. These were counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.
While searching the pockets of clothing in the closet, officers located a bag containing a box of suboxone, multiple small bags, and glass pipes.
A search of the bedroom revealed the following items: a green bottle containing small purple pills imprinted K57, Oxycodone Hydrochloride, heroin, and cocaine.
There were also three individually packaged light blue M30 pills that appeared to be for sale. The items found appeared to be for both personal use and for sale. Payne possessed 76.8 grams of fentanyl for distribution.
Payne’s criminal history includes two state felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance. Payne has two pending felony charges in Bonneville County for drug trafficking in methamphetamine and in Fremont County for passing checks with insufficient funds.
“U.S. Attorney Hurwit applauded the investigations by the Idaho Falls Police Department and the Idaho State Police for their work in all three cases and thanked the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office and the Bonneville County Prosecutor’s Office for their investigations, which led to charges in the Rosas and Payne cases,” says the release.