Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report

Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report

November 21, 2024

By David Olen Cross

The “Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report” in the third full week of November 2024 has for northwest regional and national radio listeners and webpage followers a report on a federal law enforcement identified Mexican national who has been convicted and sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking crimes in a U.S. District Court in the state of Idaho.

Some background information, on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho (USAODI), issued a news release titled “Three Drug Traffickers Each Sentenced to Ten or More Years in Federal Prison” who one of the subjects of interest was identified as Ivan Cortez-Monarrez (U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho Case Number: 1:24-R-C00065–AKB-1):

Here is an extended excerpt from USAODI’s November 13, 2024 news release that includes Ivan Cortez-Monarrez:

“3. Mexican National Sentenced to over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Drugs and Unlawfully Possessing Firearms

In a third case, – Ivan Cortez-Monarrez, 41, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced to 123 months and 11 days in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine and unlawfully possessing firearms.

According to court records, the FBI-led Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force began investigating reports that Cortez-Monarrez was working with a Mexican cartel to distribute drugs from Arizona into the Treasure Valley. In the summer of 2023, law enforcement conducted an operation that resulted in obtaining approximately 6 pounds of methamphetamine and three firearms from Cortez-Monarrez. Cortez-Monarrez had previously been removed from the United States in January 2021 but was found illegally living in Idaho at the time he committed the offenses.

Cortez-Monarrez pleaded guilty to the charge in August 2024. During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford noted that Cortez-Monarrez had no connection to Idaho or the United States. She further commented on Cortez-Monarrez dealing drugs at the expense of destroying lives. Because Cortez-Monarrez is a Mexican citizen who was illegally present in the United States, he will be deported after serving his prison sentence.

“Like other drug traffickers, Cortez-Monarrez had no regard for the harm he caused the people of the Treasure Valley,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “His sentencing is an example of what can be achieved when law enforcement at all levels works together. Illicit drugs have caused too much pain and devastation in our communities, and the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force is actively working to keep Idahoans safe.”

“This case highlights the ongoing efforts by Mexican drug cartels to infiltrate communities across the United States and poison our citizens with illicit drugs,” said Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue. “Thankfully, our strong partnerships in the Treasure Valley among our state, local, and federal partners allow us to fight this type of criminality head-on.  I’m thankful for the dedicated work of the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force and U.S. Attorney Hurwit’s office for putting this defendant in prison. I’m hopeful it sends a message to other criminals that we will stop at nothing to find you and hold you accountable for your actions.”

U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force for its efforts in this case. The Task Force is comprised of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Caldwell Police Department, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho Department of Correction. In addition, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) and Explosives and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) assisted in this case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Manweiler prosecuted this case.” – U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.

Seeking more detailed information on the historical immigration status of Ivan Cortez-Monarrez the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” contacted via e-mail on Thursday, November 14, 2024 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Public Affairs for the Northwest Region which encompasses the states of Alaska, Oregon and Washington, furthermore, ICE Public Affairs in Washington, D.C. with the following questions:

Is Ivan Cortez-Monarrez currently illegally present in the United States?

How many times has Ivan Cortez-Monarrez been previously removed from the country by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)?

Can ICE Public Affairs’ confirm if Ivan Cortez-Monarrez’s country of origin is actually Mexico?

On Friday, November 15, 2024 ICE Public Affairs for the Northwest Region responded to the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” request for a statement on the historical immigration status of Ivan Cortez-Monarrez in the following way (Note: ICE Public Affairs was sent the complete text of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho Wednesday, November 13, 2024 news release on Ivan Cortez-Monarrez.):

“No additional information, outside of what is available in the news release, is available at this time.” – ICE Public Affairs Spokesperson.

Since being convicted and sentenced in U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho Ivan Cortez-Monarrez (IDOC #: 157981) is currently in the custody of the Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC) prison system at Idaho State Correctional Institution (ISCI) located in Kuna, Idaho.

If in the near future Ivan Cortez-Monarrez is transferred to the custody of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) he will join more than 23-thousand criminal aliens incarcerated in the BOP prison system.

Lars, the third full week of November 2024 and another “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” for Lars Larson Show KXL FM 101.1 northwest regional and national radio show listeners and website followers.

David Olen Cross (docfnc) is a reporter on foreign national crime. He is a more than decade long contributor to the “Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report.” His past crime reporting can be found at https://docfnc.wordpress.com/.