FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
| Date: | May 27, 2022 |
| Contact: | Emily Lowe Public Information Officer 208-287-7700 |
| RE: | State v. Mason Yant – Sentencing |
BOISE – On Wednesday, 42-year-old Mason Yant was sentenced to up to life in prison for manufacturing and distributing Fentanyl and trafficking in heroin.
In September 2021, Boise Police and Nampa Police officers went to a Nampa residence to serve a warrant related to an investigation that began months earlier on Mr. Yant for Conspiracy to traffic in heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, distributing fentanyl, and violating his parole from a 2017 heroin trafficking case. Mr. Yant refused to exit the residence, and a standoff ensued, during which the defendant fired a firearm toward at least four officers. No officers were injured during the standoff that lasted for about nine hours before law enforcement successfully took the defendant into custody.
Significant quantities of illegal controlled substances as well as other contraband were seized during the investigation, including:
- over 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds) of powder fentanyl,
- over 5,000 grams (11 pounds) of fentanyl pills disguised as fake Oxycontin,
- over 200 grams (.44 pounds) of heroin,
- trafficking weight of methamphetamine,
- trafficking weight of cocaine,
- 11 firearms,
- over $20,000.00.
The defendant pled guilty in March 2022 to conspiracy to traffic heroin, conspiracy to deliver and manufacture a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Honorable Ada County District Judge Peter Barton sentenced Mr. Yant to serve up to life in prison, with 20 years fixed before being eligible for parole. Eight other conspirators were also charged as a result of the investigation that spanned over several months.
“Those looking to distribute illegal, dangerous drugs in our community should be deterred by this sentence Judge Barton handed down,” said Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts. “This investigation led by Boise Police and Nampa Police detectives undoubtedly removed hundreds of doses of dangerous and deadly drugs from our community. These partnerships are crucial in our mission of public safety.”
Mr. Yant and conspirators used short term rental houses, like those rented through Airbnb, to conceal, prepare, and distribute the illegal substances and other contraband.
If you rent out a short-term rental space, or live near neighbors who do, it’s important to be aware of suspicious activity, and report the activity if you see it. Here are a few types of suspicious activities to watch for:
- Different vehicles coming and going from the residence during the day and night;
- Covered windows;
- Installation of surveillance equipment;
- Short term traffic either on foot or by vehicle, especially late at night or early morning;
- Syringes or other drug paraphernalia discarded near residence and/or related vehicles.
We would like to extend our appreciation to those citizens, homeowners and property managers who were vigilant and reported suspicious activity during this investigation.