A 77-year old man from Boise, Clinton DeWitt Bays pleads guilty to meth possession, distribution. Bays was previously out on bond for the trafficking and possession of methamphetamine which he intended to sell. He was subsequently found trying to sell 4 ounces of meth to an undercover agent.
The arrest of Bays came about as a result of collaboration between multiple agencies. These include the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the Police Departments of Boise and Meridian. OCDETF is a multi-level agency with expansive jurisdiction and comprises of support and resources from many other federal agencies. It is a kind of collaboration and cooperation between the likes of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internet Revenue Service (IRS) and U.S. Marshals Service.
A central role in this present case and subsequent arrest was played by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a part of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In fact, the announcement of Bays’ guilty plea was made public by the acting special agent of HSI together with the U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis.
With this guilty plea, Bays is all set to receive a harsh punishment. He faces a statutory mandatory minimum prison sentence of at least 10 years, with a maximum of lifetime imprisonment. A fine of up to $10 million may also be imposed on him. In addition, he is likely to face supervised release for at least five years after his prison term expires.
Bays will have his case heard by the Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye on February 19, 2020. He is currently in custody and will remain so until the hearing. Drug trafficking, possession and distribution is a serious offense in Idaho and the penalties depend upon the type of drug involved and other factors.
If you’ve been convicted for possession or distribution, contact our lawyers for help.