Five People Sentenced for Gun and Drug Crimes in Connection with Aryan Knights Case

BOISE—U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today the sentencing of Lisa Rochel Samayoa, 45, of Boise; Nina Ann Lucas, 32, of Pocatello, Idaho; Darin Scott Melton, 44, of Twin Falls, Idaho; and Omar Riveroll-Hernandez, 32, of Long Beach, California, to federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. Cameron James Ball, 25, also of Boise, was sentenced for unlawfully possessing a firearm. The five defendants pleaded guilty to the charge on January 14, 2013. They were sentenced yesterday and today by the Honorable Larry A. Burns, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of California, at the federal courthouse in Boise.

Samayoa was sentenced to 135 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. According to information presented in court, Samayoa was involved in the ongoing distribution of methamphetamine. In May 2012, she sold approximately three ounces of methamphetamine to confidential informants; law enforcement seized an additional four ounces. Samayoa was previously convicted of trafficking methamphetamine in 2003.

Lucas was sentenced to 130 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. According to information presented in court, Lucas conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in the Boise area. At the time she committed this crime, Lucas was on probation for a felony drug offense.

Melton was sentenced to 87 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. According to information presented in court, Melton conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine. He admitted that on March 15, 2012, he sold three ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant.

Riveroll-Hernandez was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. According to information presented in court, Riveroll-Hernandez was arrested on May 27, 2012, in Twin Falls, Idaho, when law enforcement officers discovered approximately seven ounces of methamphetamine concealed inside a hidden compartment of his vehicle.

Ball was sentenced yesterday to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for unlawfully possessing a firearm. According to the plea agreement, Ball admitted that he was in possession of a Hi-Point JCP .40 semiautomatic pistol, which he sold to a confidential informant. Ball was prohibited from possessing the firearm because he was previously convicted in 2005 of the felony crime of possessing a controlled substance.

The cases are part of the Aryan Knights investigation in which 23 people were charged as a result of a long term investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force. The investigation began when the task force focused on illegal drug distribution by the Aryan Knights, a gang active both in prison and on the streets throughout Idaho. Through the investigation, law enforcement agents identified Aryan Knights gang members who were trafficking methamphetamine, as well as associates of the gang who were the source of that methamphetamine.

Of the 23 people charged, 22 have pleaded guilty. The final defendant has signed a plea agreement but not yet entered his guilty plea in court. Fifteen defendants have been sentenced while the others are awaiting sentencing.

The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force is composed 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 joint investigation also included the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a cooperative law enforcement effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Marshals Service.

The cases are 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.