Three Idaho Falls men sentenced to prison for drug trafficking

IDAHO FALLS – Three Idaho Falls men have been convicted in federal court of drug trafficking charges.

According to the Idaho U.S. Attorney’s Office, three separate drug trafficking cases in eastern Idaho were resolved with prison sentences after they were prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Zoie Laggis.

Jesus Rosas

Jesus Rosas, 45, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced Nov. 25 to 55 months or four and a half years in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Rosas to serve three years of supervised release following his sentence. Rosas pleaded guilty to the charge in September 2024.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Rosas was stopped by Idaho Falls police on Jan. 8 for a traffic violation. The passenger, later identified as 29-year-old Wyatt Landon, had multiple warrants for his arrest and fled the car, later firing a handgun at an officer.

The officer returned fire, striking Landon, who ultimately died from resulting injuries.

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During the traffic stop, officers removed Rosas from the car and found a loaded handgun next to the driver’s seat. As he was being taken away, officers saw him reaching for the weapon, the statement said.

Officers searched Rosas before placing him in a patrol vehicle. During the search, officers discovered a black bag in Rosas’ jacket pocket that contained a glass pipe, small clear bags and two bags containing 35.9 grams of methamphetamine.

Rosas’ criminal history includes five prior convictions for state crimes: delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance, grand larceny and burglary. Idaho Department of Corrections records indicate he suspected he had gang ties.

Brandon Luce

Brandon Luce, 43, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced Nov. 21 to 37 months or three years and one month in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ordered Luce to serve three years of supervised release following his sentence. Luce pleaded guilty to the crime in August 2024.

According to the press release, Luce sold someone a total of 83.24 grams of methamphetamine on two occasions in early 2022.

Luce told the buyer that there was only one pound left in town and they needed to get more.

Luce’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for possession of controlled substances as well as misdemeanor convictions for traffic offenses, possession of burglary tools and assault.

Darren Payne

Darren Payne, 51, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced Nov. 25 to 24 months or two years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Payne be placed on three years of supervised release following his sentence. Payne pleaded guilty to the charge in July 2024.

According to the release, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Payne’s home and car on Jan. 18.

Payne was alone in the master bedroom, where he attempted to run from the bedroom to the bathroom and swallow a bag of methamphetamine, but eventually spit it out.

During the search, officers found a plastic bag containing hundreds of light blue M30 pills stuck in the bottom of a shoe. These were counterfeit oxycodone tablets containing fentanyl.

While searching clothing bags in the closet, officers found a bag containing a box of Suboxone, several small baggies and glass pipes.

A search of the bedroom revealed the following items: a green bottle containing small purple pills marked K57, oxycodone hydrochloride, heroin and cocaine.

There were also three individually wrapped light blue M30 pills that appeared to be for sale. The items found were apparently for both personal use and sale. Payne possessed 76.8 grams of fentanyl for distribution.

Payne’s criminal history includes two state convictions for possession of a controlled substance. Payne has two criminal charges pending in Bonneville County for trafficking methamphetamine and in Fremont County for issuing checks with insufficient funds.

“U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigations of the Idaho Falls Police Department and the Idaho State Police for their work in all three cases and thanked the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office and the Bonneville County Prosecutor’s Office for their investigations that led to charges in the Rosas and the U.S. conducted Payne cases,” the press release said.