Four meth traffickers sentenced in separate cases; another awaiting sentencing
Published at | Updated at
POCATELLO — Four people convicted of trafficking methamphetamine were sentenced this week, according to U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit. A fifth defendant is still waiting sentencing.
“This series of cases shows my office’s commitment to disrupting the flow of illegal drugs into Idaho,” Hurwit said in a news release. “Through close collaboration with our state, local, tribal and federal law enforcement partners, we continue to hold accountable those who distribute poison in our communities.”
The first case involves a Montana man named Benjamin C. Brooks.
In July 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Brooks, according to court documents. Officers conducted a search on the vehicle after smelling the “odor of marijuana coming from the car.” During the search, they found about 2 pounds of methamphetamine and a gun.
Brooks was sentenced to serve 10 years in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Additionally, Chief U.S. District David C. Nye ordered Brooks to serve five years of supervised released after the completion of his prison sentence.
In another case, a Pocatello woman was sentenced to serve almost five years in federal prison.
In November 2022, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Stacy Lynn Allen, 51, according to court documents. Allen, who had a warrant for her arrest, admitted to officers she had marijuana in the car.
Law enforcement searched the vehicle and found about 2 pounds of methamphetamine, which Allen admitted to intending to distribute.
Allen was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, according to the news release. Further, Nye ordered Allen to serve three years of supervised release after she completes her prison sentence.
In a third case, Ben Rubidoux, 44, of Idaho Falls, sold 10 fentanyl pills to law enforcement officers in September 2022, according to court documents. In November 2022, law enforcement found two guns and over 3 grams of methamphetamine in Rubidoux’s possession. In December 2022, he was found in possession of about 39 grams of methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine.
Rubidoux admitted he had the methamphetamine intended to it to another person. He entered his guilty plea to the charge on July 27, 2023. He was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Rubidoux must also serve four years of supervised release upon completing his prison sentence, according to Hurwit.
In a fourth case, Arriyon Royce Meeks, 43, of Fort Hall, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison. Meeks was found guilty of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
In August 2021, officers with the Fort Hall Police Department saw Meeks at a Fort Hall home washing a car. The officers knew Meeks had two active Tribal Court warrants for his arrest and took him into custody. When searching his car, they found 148 grams of methamphetamine, according to court records.
Meeks admitted he was in possession of the methamphetamine with intent to distribute it. Meeks entered his guilty plea to the charge on July 19, 2023. In addition to prison time, Meeks was sentenced to an addition three years of supervised release.
Meeks served an additional six months in tribal jail on the same charge, according to the news release. He was given credit for that time served.
In the final case, Thomas Schooley, 39, of Pocatello, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, according to court documents.
During a traffic stop in January, Schooley was a passenger in the vehicle. Police found about 80 grams of methamphetamine in the vehicle.
“Schooley admitted he had received a quarter pound of methamphetamine and had been selling it to others,” according to the news release. “The 80 grams was what was left over from the quarter pound.”
Schooley is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 17, 2024. He is facing a term of imprisonment of at least 10 years, with the possibility of spending life in federal prison. If he does get out of prison, Schooley will serve at least five years on supervised release.
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Idaho State Police, the Idaho Falls Police Department, the Fort Hall Police Department and the Pocatello Police Department all participated in these investigations as part of the BADGES Task Force, Hurwit said. The BADGES Task force is made up of multiple federal, state and local agencies in the Bannock County area that focuses on drug trafficking crimes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe McLane is prosecuting the Brooks, Allen and Schooley cases, according to the news release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett prosecuted the Rubidoux case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Haycock prosecuted the Meeks case.