Two charged with drug trafficking after local drug investigation

IDAHO FALLS – Two people were arrested and charged with drug trafficking or possession Wednesday morning after law enforcement allegedly found them with multiple illegal drugs.

Detectives with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit, Idaho Falls Police, and Idaho State Police served a search warrant around 11:30 a.m. as part of an ongoing drug investigation.

According to a sheriff’s office news release, David Eugene Buchholz, 68, and Pamela Leo Sato, 67, were arrested at an Idaho Falls home on Syringa Street.

Detectives arrived at the home and searched Buchholz’s room, where they reportedly found multiple items of drug paraphernalia and several packages of methamphetamine totaling approximately 200 grams.

In Sato’s room, detectives reportedly found just over two grams of marijuana, just under a half gram of methamphetamine, and one fentanyl pill. Officials say Sato admitted the illegal drugs belonged to her.

Both Buchholz and Sato were transported to the Bonneville County Jail. Buchholz was then charged with felony drug trafficking and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sato was charged with two counts of felony possession of methamphetamine and possession of fentanyl, along with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Buchholz is scheduled for an initial appearance on May 4 and a preliminary hearing on May 17. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison.

Court documents are not yet available for Sato, and proceedings have not been scheduled, but if she is convicted, she could also face up to life in prison.