Boise Man Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing Firearm

BOISE – Travis Gayle Smith, 40, of Boise, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

According to the plea agreement, on January 19, 2005, Smith was convicted of aggravated battery in Ada County, Idaho, and sentenced to ten years in prison. In November 2010, Smith was paroled and released from custody with the condition that he submit to a search of his residence at any time by any agent of field and community services. On July 20, 2012, a Probation and Parole officer, assisted by the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a search of Smith’s residence and located a Mossberg 12 gauge slide-action shotgun and ammunition. According to the plea agreement, Smith admitted the gun was his and that he had purchased it approximately one month prior to the search. Smith is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his prior felony conviction.

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

Sentencing is set for June 4, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.

The case was investigated by the Idaho Department of Correction Probation and Parole, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case 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.