Creston Dale Kindness, a 42-year-old resident of Fort Hall, has been sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for the possession and intent to distribute fentanyl, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott.
The incident began on January 21, 2024, when officers observed Kindness driving at an excessively high speed, leading to a prolonged chase. The pursuit ended when his vehicle got stuck in the snow. Following his arrest, Kindness was taken to jail where a sheriff’s deputy noticed him making a video call. During the call, Kindness instructed a female friend to retrieve a bag he had discarded from the car window during the chase. The bag was later found by officers and contained a significant amount of cash and 350 grams of fentanyl pills.
Kindness admitted guilt to the charge of possession with the intention to distribute fentanyl on June 24, 2024. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye has also imposed a subsequent five-year supervised release term following Kindness's prison sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott praised the efforts of the various law enforcement agencies involved, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Bingham, Blackfoot, Shelley Investigation Unit, the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, the Fort Hall Police Department, and the Idaho State Police, for their contributions to the case's successful prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Haycock.