Washington man gets 7 years for meth bust

COEUR d'ALENE – A Washington man was sentenced today in United States District Court to seven years in prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to the plea agreement, Severiano V. Valle, 49, of Royal City, was stopped by the Kootenai County Interdiction Team on February 8, 2011.

A dog specially trained to detect the presence of drugs alerted law enforcement to 449 grams of methamphetamine in the trunk of Valle's vehicle. Valle admitted that he was taking the methamphetamine to another person.

U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Valle to serve four years of supervised release and pay a $5,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office and the North Idaho Violent Crime Task Force.