A former Coeur d’Alene High School booster of the year and prominent insurance agent was sentenced today to 27 months in federal prison in an undercover cocaine sting. Jerry S. Carlson, cried as he addressed U.S. District Judge Justin Quackenbush this morning in Coeur d’Alene as about 70 supporters packed the courtroom, including Lola Hagadone. Carlson pleaded guilty in January to attempting to possess 500 or more grams of cocaine with intent to deliver. Federal sentencing guidelines called for him to serve 37 months to 46 months behind bars, but Quackenbush ruled Carlson was not a distributor and shortened his sentence by 10 months. He also ordered Carlson to partake in a prison drug program, not as a patient but as a counselor or adviser to incoming addicts. That program, coupled with expected credit for good time, could reduce Carlson’s sentence to just over a year behind bars, said his lawyer, Jim Siebe. Siebe had asked for probation, but Quackenbush made it clear at the beginning of the hearing that Carlson was prison bound. More here.

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A prominent Coeur d’Alene insurance agent and school booster charged with possessing cocaine this month is part of a larger criminal conspiracy investigation involving at least a half a kilogram of the drug and dating back more than a year. In addition to a state charge of possession of a controlled substance, Jerry S. Carlson, 47, faces three federal charges, one related to distribution of more than 500 grams of cocaine that took place over several months, documents show. Carlson was indicted on charges of conspiracy to posses with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, and attempt to possess with intent to deliver cocaine/Meghann M. Cuniff, SR. More here.