Gang Member Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison for Drug Charges

BOISE – U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today that Anthony Rennie Jones, 29, of Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge sentenced Jones at the federal courthouse in Boise. Jones, a documented member of a criminal gang, pleaded guilty to the charges on January 15, 2014.

According to the plea agreement and information presented in court, Jones admitted to selling methamphetamine to a person who was acting as a confidential informant. Jones sold methamphetamine to the confidential informant on four separate occasions beginning in October 2012. In January 2013, the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force served search warrants at Jones’ residence and place of business. Agents located multiple handguns, approximately $15,000, and other items associated with drug dealing.

During the court hearing today, Judge Lodge found that Jones possessed the handguns in connection with the drug distribution. Additional evidence was presented to establish that Jones is a documented gang member.

The case was investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force. The Metro Task Force is comprised of federal, state and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Boise Police Department; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and the Idaho Department of Correction.

The Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) also contributed to the investigation. Federal partners include the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and U.S. Marshals Service.

The case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit treasurevalleypartners.org.