NAMPA MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR GUN CRIME

David Panther Herrera, 31, of Nampa, will serve 120 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a sawed-off rifle with an obliterated serial number, U.S. Attorney Tom Moss announced. Herrera is a two time convicted felon.

Herrera was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the Federal Courthouse in Boise. Following his prison sentence, Herrera will serve three years on supervised release. Judge Lodge ordered Herrera to pay a fine of $1000. Herrera had entered a guilty plea to the firearms charge in December 2008.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Nampa Police Department.

Herrera’s prosecution was part of Idaho’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program, which seeks to reduce gun violence. His case was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office through its Special Assistant United States Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partners and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office to combat gang violence in Idaho.

United States Attorney Tom Moss stated, “Long federal sentences await those felons who continue to arm themselves and threaten the safety of the community.”