Two Idaho Men Sentenced to Federal Prison in Connection with Aryan Knights Cases

BOISE—U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today that Christopher John Solders, 26, of Twin Falls, and Joseph Anthony Goulart, 42, of Caldwell, were sentenced to federal prison for distributing methamphetamine. A federal grand jury in Boise charged the men in separate indictments last fall.

Solders was sentenced yesterday to 84 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of methamphetamine. Solders pleaded guilty to the charge on February 14, 2013. According to the plea agreement, Solders admitted that he sold methamphetamine on two occasions to a confidential informant working with law enforcement. The first transaction occurred in February 2012 and the second transaction in May 2012.

Goulart was sentenced today to 180 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. On February 7, 2013, Goulart pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to information presented in court, law enforcement agents found approximately one and one-half pounds of methamphetamine during a search of Goulart’s residence in September 2012.

Solders and Goulart were sentenced by the Honorable John C. Coughenour, U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Washington, at the federal courthouse in Boise.

The Solders and Goulart 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.

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 composed 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.