Mother and daughter arrested in Bannock County on drug distribution charges
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POCATELLO — A Bannock County mother and daughter have both been arrested on drug distribution charges after allegedly selling meth and fentanyl to Pocatello Police informants.
Veronica Beltran, 35, has been charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver and one count of principal to delivery of a controlled substance – fentanyl
Herlinda Brower, 56 has been charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver.
Court documents report on March 14, 2024, a controlled purchase was arranged and took place with assistance from the Bannock Area Drug Group Enforcement Squad (BADGES).
The Pocatello Police Department’s confidential informant was initially supposed to purchase 30-35 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, but after speaking with Beltran via phone, Beltran allegedly said she’d sold most of her supply. The informant was instructed to ask for methamphetamine and whatever amount of pills Beltran was willing to sell.
Court documents report Beltran allegedly told the informant that her mother, Brower, would have the methamphetamine on hand to sell.
While wearing a recording device, the informant allegedly purchased drugs from Brower without incident and returned to police with 1.5 grams of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine and 13 pills that tested positive for fentanyl, court documents state.
More than two years later, on Sept. 6, Brower was arrested. A warrant was issued for Beltran’s arrest on Sept. 8, and she was taken into custody on Oct. 7.
If found guilty of the charges, each woman may face up to life in prison and be required to pay a fine of up to $50,000.
Both women have been appointed public defenders. The Idaho State Public Defender’s Office does not comment on active cases.
Brower is expected to next appear in court Oct. 13 for a preliminary hearing.
Beltran is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 22 for a preliminary hearing as well.
Although Brower and Beltran have been accused of these crimes, that does not necessarily mean they committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.