BOISE - Leonel Burgos-Chavez, 43, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney John C. Shirts announced today.

According to court records, Burgos-Chavez used the United States Postal Service to ship large quantities of drugs to co-conspirators in Idaho. In total, Burgos-Chavez either distributed, or facilitated the shipment of approximately 19 pounds of methamphetamine and 485,000 fentanyl pills. At the time he committed the offenses, he had absconded from federal supervision and had previously been deported twice. Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Burgos-Chavez to serve 5 years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

U.S. Attorney Shirts made the announcement and commended the work of Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Caldwell Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff's Office; and Idaho Department of Corrections. The United States Postal Inspection Service and Drug Enforcement Administration also assisted with the investigation.

"While too many families have suffered the devastating consequences of drug abuse, Leonel Burgos-Chavez only helped fuel the crisis for profit," said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. "The FBI and our partners remain committed to holding drug traffickers accountable, disrupting their operations, and preventing further harm to our communities."

"This investigation is an excellent example of the success achieved when local law enforcement, federal investigative agencies, and the U.S. Attorney's Office partner to disrupt multi-state drug traffickers." said U.S. Attorney John Shirts. "Ensuring drug traffickers are held accountable for bringing dangerous drugs to Idaho is among the highest priorities of our office and our law enforcement partners."

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelsey Manweiler when she was 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 comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

###