Two Plead Guilty to Federal Gun Crimes
Cases Related to Ongoing Aryan Knights Investigation

BOISE—Andrew Gallegos, 23, and Cameron James Ball, 25, both of Boise, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Gallegos and Ball were charged in two separate indictments filed in August and September 2012, respectively.

Gallegos and Ball pleaded guilty to illegally possessing the firearms after having been convicted of a felony crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. Gallegos admitted in court today that on February 21, 2012, he possessed a Smith & Wesson .357 semi-automatic pistol. According to the plea agreement, Ball admitted that on February 8, 2012, he unlawfully possessed a CHS a Hi-Point .40 semi-automatic pistol.

Unlawful possession of a firearm is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. The government is seeking forfeiture of the firearms.

Gallegos is set for sentencing on April 8, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge, at the federal courthouse in Boise. Ball is set for sentencing on April 9, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

The cases were the result of a joint investigation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which included the cooperative law enforcement efforts 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; U.S. Marshals Service; and the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force, a task force comprised of federal, state and local agencies, including the Boise Police Department, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Caldwell Police Department, Nampa Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; the Twin Falls Police Department; Twin Falls Sheriff’s Office; Idaho State Police; and District 3 Probation and Parole. The investigation focused on illegal drug distribution by the “Aryan Knights,” a gang active 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 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.