8 sentenced in meth ring case

By KLEW Web Staff

Story

Summary

8 people from the Kamiah-Kooskia and Weippe areas have been sentenced to federal prison terms ranging from 12 to 70 months; investigation was initiated by the Idaho County Sheriff's Office in 2008.

Story Published: Jan 29, 2010 at 4:25 PM PST

Story Updated: Jan 29, 2010 at 9:53 PM PST

BOISE - A Weippe man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.

U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge handed down the sentence to 46-year-old Lance Thomas.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boise, during the past six weeks, seven other people from the Kamiah-Kooskia area have also been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 12 to 70 months.

They are 52-year-old Marvin Mendenhall, 48-year-old Viola Hedden, 52-year-old Robin Vessey, 48-year-old Deborah Rairdon, 49-year-old Randy Sams, 52-year-old Jill Allgier and 34-year-old Owen Jack.

The investigation was initiated by the Idaho County Sheriff's Office in 2008. As the case progressed, the Idaho State Police and the FBI assisted.

The investigation revealed that those convicted had been purchasing ingredients used to manufacture meth. Authorities later discovered a meth lab during a search of Mendenhall's residence in Kamiah.