Two Sentenced in Connection with Aryan Knights Cases

BOISE—U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today that two more individuals in the Aryan Knights investigation were sentenced to serve federal prison sentences for distributing methamphetamine.

Nicholas Andrew Steele, 26, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill to 60 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine. On December 20, 2012, Steele pleaded guilty and admitted to his involvement in distributing methamphetamine to a confidential informant in June 2012. Steele’s co-defendant, Dennis Lynn James, 46, of San Pablo, California, pleaded guilty on March 12, 2013, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in Boise on June 3.

In a separate case, Stephanie Ann Robinson, 29, of Boise, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge to 63 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine. On January 25, 2013, Robinson pleaded guilty to the indictment charging her with one count of distributing methamphetamine in March 2012.

The Steele and Robinson 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 Crimes 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 Aryan Knights indictments were the result of a joint investigation by 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; and U.S. Marshals Service. The Twin Falls Police Department, Twin Falls Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police, and District 3 Probation and Parole participated in the investigation.

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.