Two Men Sentenced to Federal Prison in ID Fentanyl Trafficking Cases

Two men were recently sentenced for crimes related to fentanyl possession and distribution in Idaho. One of the men is from Idaho and the other is from Utah.

Both men, though in separate cases, were arrested in relation to traffic stops initiated in Eastern Idaho.

ID and UT Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking

Both cases began in May of 2024 when law enforcement initiated traffic stops and found drugs in the vehicles. In one case, officers found drugs and loaded guns, and in the other, drugs and hotel keys were found.

Officers got a warrant to search the hotel rooms and found a man overdosing in one of the rooms.

Utah Man Found in Idaho With 576 Fentanyl Pills Tied to His Privates

In the case involving the man from Utah, authorities initially arrested an individual during a traffic stop in Eastern Idaho for possession of around 200 fentanyl pills (19.6 grams). That individual also had 2 hotel keys, and officers requested and executed a search warrant on the rooms.

In one of the rooms, 32-year-old David Erik Traversa from Utah was found overdosing. An ambulance was called and he was taken to a local hospital where medical staff found ‘a black drawstring bag attached to his genitals. The drawstring bag contained approximately 576 fentanyl pills’.

READ MORE: These 11 Idahoans Will Serve Time For Trafficking Fentanyl

Traversa pleaded guilty to possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute and was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

Idaho Man Found With Loaded Guns and Fentanyl in Car During Traffic Stop

In a separate case, a Pocatello man was arrested following a traffic stop that resulted in officers finding 2 loaded guns and more than 107 grams of fentanyl in a safe in the trunk of the vehicle.

The man, 38-year-old Casey Steven Evans, was sentenced to 60 months in a federal prison for possession with intent to distribute, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

Fentanyl has been, and will continue to be, a growing issue in Idaho. During the first years of COVID, fentanyl related deaths skyrocketed across the state.