BOISE – Joshua Patrick Elliott, 28, of Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States District Court to 33 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Elliott to serve three years of supervised release and forfeit the firearm he possessed. He pleaded guilty to the charge on August 6, 2012.

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. The gun was reported stolen from Reno, Nevada, on December 5, 2010. Elliott 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 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 treasurevalleypartners.org.