Nampa Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Charge

BOISE – Raul Efrain Lopez Jr., 36, of Nampa, Idaho, pleaded guilty today to unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced.  A federal grand jury indicted Lopez on January 9, 2018.  The indictment alleged that Lopez possessed a firearm after previously being convicted of a felony crime.

According to court documents, in November 2017, law enforcement stopped Lopez while he was driving in Nampa, Idaho, and arrested him on an outstanding warrant.  Officers could see firearms in the backseat of the car and subsequently located a shotgun, three rifles, a handgun, ammunition, and magazines.  Lopez is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance.

Unlawful possession of a firearm is punishable by up to ten years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.

Sentencing is set for July 10, 2018, before Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.

This case was investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force.  The 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. 

This 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.