BOISE – Joshua Patrick Elliott, 28, of Nampa, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Boise to unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

According to the plea agreement, on December 16, 2010, while awaiting sentencing on a grand theft charge in a Canyon County, Idaho, case, Elliott attempted to sell a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun for $350. He was unable to complete the sale prior to being sentenced to state prison on December 17, 2010. While incarcerated, Elliott contacted his girlfriend by telephone and gave her instructions to complete the sale of the firearm. According to the plea agreement, three days after Elliott was sentenced, his girlfriend sold the gun for $400. Elliott pleaded guilty to grand theft, a felony, on November 1, 2010. Because the crime of grand theft is punishable by more than one year of imprisonment, Elliott was prohibited from possessing firearms after pleading guilty in state court.

The charge of unlawful possession of a firearm is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set for October 29, 2012, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Boise.

The case was investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force and 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 www.treasurevalleypartners.org.