TREASURE VALLEY PARTNERSHIP’S SAUSA PROGRAM LEADS TO FEDERAL SENTENCING OF GANG MEMBER

Anthony John Austin, a documented member of a Boise street gang, was sentenced to serve 101 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and for using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Tom Moss announced on Thursday.

Austin was prosecuted by the Special Assistant United States Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership under its SAUSA program. Austin’s prosecution was also part of Idaho’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Anti-Gang Initiative, designed to reduce gun violence in the state.

“Today’s sentencing proves that the Treasure Valley now has an effective tool to combat gang activity,” Mayor David Bieter said. “The length of this sentence should send a message to other gang members that this type of activity will not be tolerated in our community.”

Austin, 27, was indicted on February 13, 2008, after an extensive investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Boise City Police Department’s Gang Unit. He pleaded guilty to both crimes in federal court on July 7. He was sentenced on Thursday by U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the Federal Courthouse in Boise.

Despite Austin’s lack of prior felonies, the combination of guns, drugs and gang activity resulted in the lengthy prison sentence. Federal law mandates a five-year prison sentence when a firearm is used in connection with drug trafficking activities. The five-year term will be served consecutively to the drug sentence. As there is no parole in federal court, Austin will be required to serve his entire sentence. Following his 101-month sentence, Austin will serve five years on supervised release, during which he may have no contact with any gang member.

The SAUSA (Special Assistant United States Attorney) program was created in 2007 by the Treasure Valley Partnership in cooperation with the State of Idaho, Owyhee County and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to federally prosecute gang criminals in the Treasure Valley. The SAUSA prosecutor works in conjunction with crime task forces to eliminate gang crime. If convicted, gang criminals are jailed in federal prisons outside of Idaho, which saves Idaho taxpayers millions of dollars and also acts as an additional disincentive to current and potential gang members. Idaho currently has no federal prison facilities.

The Treasure Valley Partnership is a non-profit group composed of elected Treasure Valley officials seeking to solve issues associated with growth.