Police break up alleged Canyon Canyon meth ring

Federal authorities have shut down a methamphetamine drug ring that they say was operating out of a Nampa shop.

In mid-January, undercover police officers met with Meridian resident Brian Weaver Cluff at his home in the 4400 block of Heritage Woods Way. Cluff provided one of the officers with nearly 3 grams of meth as a free sample, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Boise.

Cluff, 43, allegedly discussed supplying the buyers in the future with a pound at a time, which he said he would sell for $6,000.

Five days later, on Jan. 17, officers obtained a pound of meth from Cluff at his shop in the 3300 block of Caldwell Boulevard, according to court documents. They received another half-pound on Jan. 27 and returned to the shop on Feb. 3 to pay the remaining $3,000 for the original pound.

The officers obtained six pounds of meth from Cluff at his shop on Feb. 11. Several other 1-pound packages of meth were found in a trailer at the shop after officers obtained a warrant and carried out a search.

After his arrest, Cluff admitted to officers that he sold at least a pound of meth per week, according to court documents.

Cluff, who is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday morning, is charged with conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and four counts of distributing meth. If convicted, he faces at least 10 years in prison and up to life.

He has previous convictions for forgery and possession of a controlled substance.

Three other people were arrested following the investigation, Raymond Pruneau, 52, of Caldwell, John Paul Tate, also known as Joseph Ray Aguiar, 47, of Nampa and Victoria Ann Whelan, 54, of Caldwell.

Before he was arrested, Cluff told the undercover officers Pruneau was “one of his best customers” and that he was supplying him with five to 10 pounds of methamphetamine a week, according to court documents.

Pruneau arrived at Cluff’s shop while the undercover officers were there on Jan. 17. The officers were asked to leave while Pruneau, who was carrying a backpack, spoke with Cluff in his office. Cluff later called the officers and had them return to the shop. He reportedly told them Pruneau was his partner and he had just brought a pound of methamphetamine to Cluff, who said the two men often helped each other out if they needed more meth.

After he was arrested, Pruneau told police Cluff had supplied him with eight to 10 pounds of methamphetamine during five transactions.

Pruneau is charged with conspiracy and two counts of possession with intent to distribute, one for methamphetamine and one for cocaine.

Tate and Whelan, also known as Vicki Adkins, are each charged with conspiracy and two counts of distribution of meth.

Tate appeared in court on Monday and pleaded not guilty. Trial is set for May 17.

Cluff and Pruneau are scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday. Whelan was arrested Tuesday in Caldwell.

This story was originally published March 14, 2016 at 3:16 PM with the headline "Police break up alleged Canyon Canyon meth ring."