Man Enters Guilty Plea After Getting Meth in Rupert

POCATELLO, Idaho (AP) — A 26-year-old Idaho Falls man faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine after pleading guilty to intent to distribute methamphetamine. Federal prosecutors say Sammy Joe Aguirre entered his plea Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Pocatello.

Aguirre, who is due to be sentenced Jan. 29, acknowledged he obtained about a pound of the illegal stimulant in March in Rupert and planned to distribute it to others after driving back to Idaho Falls.

On the way, however, he was stopped by the Idaho State Police, who found the drugs in his car and arrested him. Aguirre's co-defendant, Emilio Martinez of Rigby, already pleaded guilty to the same crime. He's due to be sentenced Jan. 3 and also faces up to 20 years in prison.