Evergreen Reporter

Jason Earl Wright, a 49-year-old resident of Jerome, Idaho, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit.

Court records reveal that Wright was part of a drug trafficking organization operating across Idaho and Oregon, although his activities were confined to the Idaho region. Between June 28, 2023, and February 7, 2024, Wright was found in possession of over one and a quarter pounds of methamphetamine, two firearms, and a small amount of cocaine. Upon his arrest following a federal indictment, authorities discovered a loaded handgun, two loaded magazines, more than an ounce of methamphetamine, two cell phones, two scales, small plastic baggies, and two drug ledgers on him.

Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill imposed an additional $500 fine on Wright and mandated four years of supervised release after his prison term.

U.S. Attorney Hurwit praised the efforts of several law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation and arrest: the Drug Enforcement Administration; Nampa Police Department Special Investigations Unit; Meridian Police Department; Boise Police Department; Oregon State Police High Desert Drug Task Force; and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Chong handled the prosecution.

The case was prosecuted by a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney funded by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office through resources from the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and supports multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.

The High Desert Drug Task Force is noted for its role in identifying and dismantling drug trafficking organizations at local, multi-state, and international levels through an intelligence-driven approach supported by multiple agencies.