Idaho Falls man and woman sentenced to prison for trafficking meth
Published at
The following is a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office (Idaho).
POCATELLO – Ana Costilla, 38, and Jorge Hernandez Venegas, 24, both of Idaho Falls, were sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. Chief United States District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Costilla to twelve and a half years and Venegas to nine years in federal prison for their roles in the conspiracy.
According to court records, law enforcement learned that Costilla was arranging to have a co-conspirator drive ten pounds of methamphetamine from California to Costilla’s residence in Idaho. Law enforcement stopped Venegas as he left Costilla’s residence in Idaho Falls. Officers with the Idaho Falls Police Department searched the vehicle Venegas was driving and found one pound of methamphetamine. Officers later discovered an additional nine pounds of methamphetamine during a search of Costilla’s home.
A federal grand jury indicted Costilla, Venegas, and Jesus Beltran-Zazusta, 26, a Mexican national living in Victor, Idaho, on January 23, 2024. On December 2, 2024, Judge Nye sentenced Venegas to 108 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. On January 6, 2025, Judge Nye sentenced Costilla to 150 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Beltran-Zazusta pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing on March 3, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the Idaho Falls Police Department and the Teton County Sheriff’s Office, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe H. McLane prosecuted the case.