Loren Toelle pleads guilty to drug, money laundering

Husband Dr. Stanley Toelle’s trial set for March

Loren Michelle Toelle, 52, pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and conspiracy to launder money.

The Coeur d'Alene woman and alleged drug-ring leader is the ex-wife of Coeur d'Alene physician Dr. Stanley Toelle, who also faces charges.

The trial for Dr. Stanley Toelle is set to begin in March. He claims that he didn't know that his then-Vegas-stripper wife was using his money to power her drug operation.

Of the 11 defendants in the case, Loren Toelle is the ninth to plead guilty in connection to the conspiracy. Drugs such as oxycodone, heroin and methamphetamine were moved around Nevada, California, Idaho, Washington, Montana and North Dakota from 2009 to 2016.

“I am very proud of the efforts of the men and women from all the various law enforcement agencies who worked tirelessly on this case to dismantle the Loren Toelle drug trafficking organization,” U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson said in a release. “Their efforts demonstrate that, in Idaho, we will bring to justice those who seek to poison communities with dangerous, addictive drugs.”

Loren Toelle faces a maximum of 40 years on the drug charge and 20 years on the money laundering charge.