(Pocatello, ID) – Jose Luis Arteaga, 39, of Rupert, was sentenced to 13 and a half years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.

According to court records, on August 22, 2023, detectives with the Mini-Cassia Drug Task Force served a search warrant at Arteaga’s home in Rupert and located 368 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm in Arteaga’s bedroom.  Detectives also located smaller amounts of cocaine, marijuana, and fentanyl in Arteaga’s bedroom.  Arteaga was previously convicted of federal drug trafficking and firearms offenses in the District of Idaho.  In 2011, Arteaga was sentenced to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of an unregistered firearm, and in 2016, he was sentenced to 32 months for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

A federal grand jury sitting in Pocatello indicted Arteaga on March 26, 2024.  He pleaded guilty on September 19, 2024.  On December 17, 2024, as part of his sentence, U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Arteaga to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.

U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the Mini-Cassia Drug Task Force, which is made up of detectives from the Minidoka and Cassia County Sheriff’s Offices.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe H. McLane prosecuted the case.