Meth Trafficker Sentenced to Nearly 22 Years in Federal Prison

Deann Tackman, 55, of Boise, was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.

According to court records, Tackman was the Idaho arm of a multi-state and multi-national drug trafficking organization. She supplied the Idaho Treasure Valley area with large quantities of methamphetamine over a five-month period prior to her arrest. The investigation, which involved several law enforcement agencies and spanned multiple federal districts, revealed that Tackman distributed over 60 pounds of methamphetamine in the Treasure Valley area a few weeks before her arrest. During the execution of a search warrant at Tackman’s residence, law enforcement located over 36 individually wrapped packages, each containing approximately one pound of methamphetamine, in the gas tank of a vehicle that had just been delivered to her residence.

“Ms. Tackman’s drug trafficking organization flooded our state with immense quantities of dangerous methamphetamine,” acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott said. “Fortunately for Idahoans, six law enforcement agencies worked together to dismantle the organization and stop the flow of methamphetamine. This appropriately severe sentence sends the message to drug traffickers that they are not welcome in Idaho.”

“Ms. Tackman preyed on Treasure Valley residents by poisoning our community with large quantities of methamphetamine, leaving a trail of misery in her wake,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “I am proud that DEA and our partners were able to hold her to account for her crime with this lengthy sentence that she richly deserves.”

U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Tackman to serve five years of supervised release following her prison sentence.

Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Nampa Police Department Special Investigations Unit, the Ada County Sheriff's Office, the Boise Police Department, the Meridian Police Department, and the Oregon High Desert Drug Task Force, which led to the charges and arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse prosecuted this case.

The DEA Task Force and High Desert Drug Task Force are multi-jurisdictional narcotics task forces that identify, disrupt, and dismantle local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-supported approach. They are supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).