Admitted Possessing Two Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

BOISE – Daniel William Failla, 28, of Middleton, Idaho, and Madera, California, was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court to 60 months in prison for possession of firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking crimes of possession of cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Failla to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term and forfeit the two firearms and ammunition he possessed. Failla pleaded guilty to the charge on October 31, 2012.

According to the plea agreement, on June 18, 2012, Failla sold a pound of marijuana to an individual in Caldwell for $2,000. Two days later, on June 20, Idaho State Police executed a search warrant on the residence where Failla was living. Inside Failla’s bedroom, detectives discovered a suitcase containing approximately 378.90 grams of cocaine and 3148.2 grams of marijuana. Detectives also discovered two loaded Springfield 9 millimeter handguns and ammunition in Failla’s bedroom. According to the plea agreement, Failla also possessed a store receipt indicating he paid $670 to purchase one of the pistols and ammunition in February 2012. Detectives determined the cocaine was worth approximately $13,000; the marijuana approximately $14,000.

Failla admitted that he possessed the cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute it, and also that he possessed the firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking crimes.

The case was investigated by the Idaho State Police with assistance by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.