Jerome County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine

BOISE - Chris Lee Heck, 63, of Jerome County, Idaho, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney John C. Shirts announced today.

According to court records, in March of 2026 investigators learned that Heck was trafficking methamphetamine in the Magic Valley area. Heck sold five pounds of methamphetamine to another person and was attempting to sell two more pounds before police arrested him. A search of his Jerome residence revealed an additional 35 pounds of methamphetamine that he intended to distribute into the community.

Heck faced a minimum of 15 years in prison because his criminal history includes a 2012 federal drug trafficking conviction from North Dakota, which resulted in a sentencing enhancement. Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Heck to serve 10 years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

U.S. Attorney Shirts made the announcement and commended the work of the Idaho State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, Twin Falls Special Investigations Unit, and the Jerome County Sheriff's Office which led to the charges.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher A. Booker prosecuted the case.

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.

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