Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

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BOISE— Joshua Allen Ward, 34, of Emmett, Idaho, was sentenced today to 180 months inprison followed by five years of supervised release for unlawful possession ofa firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge EdwardJ. Lodge also ordered Ward to forfeit the firearm. He was found guilty onAugust 7, 2012, after a court trial.
Accordingto court documents, Ward was previously convicted of aggravated assault on May2, 2007, in Ada County, Idaho. He was sentenced to serve a minimum term ofthree years in the state penitentiary and was paroled in November 2010. On January25, 2011, Ward’s parole officer, assisted by members of the Gem CountySheriff’s Office, arrested Ward at his residence for a parole violation. Duringa search of the residence, officers found a 9 millimeter semi–automatic pistoland assorted ammunition in Ward’s bedroom. At his parole revocation hearing inFebruary 2011, Ward admitted to knowingly possessing the firearm in violationof the terms of his parole. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited frompossessing firearms.
"Workingwith our State and local partners to combat violent crime and keep guns out ofthe hands of violent offenders is a top priority for ATF," said KelvinCrenshaw, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Seattle Field Division."Today’s sentencing of Ward as an armed career criminal is anotherexcellent example of the importance of law enforcement partnerships and theireffectiveness in protecting the safety and security of communities."
Thecase was investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Forceand the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It is beingprosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure ValleyPartnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure ValleyPartnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idahodedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creatingcoherent regional growth. For more information, visittreasurevalleypartners.org.