Caldwell Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing Sawed-Off Shotgun

BOISE – Anthony Michael Payment, 21, of Caldwell, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Boise to unlawfully possessing a sawed-off shotgun, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

According to information presented in court, Payment possessed a Bay State, 20 gauge sawed-off shotgun on August 19, 2013. Probation officers and officers with the Nampa Police Department responded to a residence after learning that Payment possessed a firearm. Officers found the sawed-off shotgun and Payment was arrested a short time later. The barrel of the shotgun measured less than twelve inches in length. The National Firearms Act requires such a shotgun to be registered if the barrel is less than eighteen inches in length.

The charge is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years supervised release. The government is also seeking forfeiture of the sawed-off shotgun. Sentencing is set for June 3, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.

The case was investigated by the Idaho Department of Probation and Parole, the Nampa Police Department, the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 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.