BOISE, ID – A Nampa man has been sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison for his role in a multi-state drug trafficking operation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.

Rito Salazar, 59, received a 182-month sentence from Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye for distribution of methamphetamine. Upon completing his prison term, Salazar will serve five years of supervised release.

Court records indicate that Salazar routinely dispatched a courier to California to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine. The drugs were then transported to Idaho, where Salazar redistributed them to local street-level dealers. He has a long criminal history and prior state-level convictions for drug trafficking.

“This investigation is an excellent example of the success achieved when local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office partner to disrupt multi-state drug traffickers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott. “Ensuring drug traffickers are held accountable for bringing these dangerous drugs to Idaho is among the highest priorities of Idaho’s local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.”

The investigation was conducted by the Boise Area Narcotic Drug Interdiction Team (BANDIT), the Canyon County City and County Narcotics Unit (CCNU), and the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office in Fresno.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey A. Manweiler, who is part of a program funded by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang-related crimes.