Boise Man Sentenced to Prison for Firearms Offense

BOISE – Richard Pena Jr., 39 of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to 63 months in prison for unlawful possession of a handgun, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Visiting Judge Dee V. Benson also ordered Pena to serve three years of supervised release following his release from prison.  Pena pleaded guilty on August 6, 2015.

According to the plea agreement, on December 4, 2014, a police officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in Caldwell, Idaho.  Police officers discovered that Pena, who was a passenger in that vehicle, had an active warrant for his arrest.  Police officers arrested Pena and searched his person and the vehicle.  During the search, police officers found a yellow crystal substance wrapped in tinfoil and a syringe in Pena’s pocket, and a backpack behind the passenger seat containing Pena’s driver’s license and a loaded 9 millimeter handgun.  Pena is prohibited from possessing firearms because he was previously convicted of the felony crime of aggravated battery.  Pena agreed to forfeit the firearm involved in the offense.  

The case was investigated by the Caldwell Police Department and the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force.  The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force is comprised of federal, state and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Boise Police Department; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and Idaho Department of Probation and Parole. 

The case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office, 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.