Nampa Man Sentenced For His Role In Drug And Gun Case

BOISE –Nearia “Nick” William Pinnell, 42, of Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced today to thirty-three months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a fully-automatic machine gun, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Pinnell to serve three years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to the charges on December 17, 2013.

According to court documents and Pinnell’s admission in court, he entered into a conspiracy with others to distribute methamphetamine. Other co-conspirators were already distributing methamphetamine when Pinnell became involved in approximately February 2013. Pinnell continued to sell small amounts of methamphetamine until approximately April 2013. Judge Lodge recognized that Pinnell was less involved in the drug conspiracy than the many of the other co-conspirators. In June 2013, law enforcement agents recovered a firearm from Pinnell. Approximately one month later, in July 2013, agents executed a search warrant at Pinnell’s residence and recovered additional firearms, including a fully-automatic machine gun. Pinnell had not registered the automatic firearm as required under the National Firearms Act.

Pinnell is one of eleven defendants indicted on July 9, 2013, in a case including charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of cocaine, and unlawful possession of firearms. All eleven defendants have pleaded guilty, including defendant Jeramie Mahler, who pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Pinnell is the third defendant to be sentenced; co-defendants Wendy Harrison and Bobbi Eileen Woolsey were both sentenced previously to 84 months in prison.

The case was investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, with assistance from the Nampa Police Department. The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes 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 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.