Nampa Man Admits Unlawfully Possessing A Firearm

BOISE – Keanta M. Lathrop, 35, of Nampa, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

According to the plea agreement, court records show that Lathrop pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine in Ada County and was sentenced on May 23, 2007, to six years in prison. Lathrop was granted parole and released from prison in November 2009. As a condition of release, Lathrop agreed to searches of his person or property. In October 2012, a search was conducted of Lathrop’s Nampa residence by Nampa police and Lathrop’s parole officer. The officers discovered a Jimenez Arms .380 semiautomatic pistol inside a backpack at the residence. Lathrop was present during the search and subsequently admitted that his fingerprints were on the weapon and he knowingly possessed the firearm. Because Lathrop was previously convicted of the felony offense of trafficking cocaine, he is prohibited from possessing firearms.

The charge is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. The government is seeking forfeiture of the firearm.

Lathrop is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13, 2013, by Chief U.S. District B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Boise.

The case was investigated by the Nampa Police Department, Idaho Department of Probation and Parole, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Lathrop is being 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.