Fruitland man sentenced to more than 9 years for federal gun crime
BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – A Fruitland man was sentenced to 110 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to court records, on November 8, 2020, Israel Jacob Salinas, 38, pointed a loaded handgun at three individuals in a vehicle near his residence in Fruitland, Idaho. One of these three individuals was a minor. The victims exited their vehicle and began to run away. Salinas fired a shot in their direction, which they believed went over their heads. Salinas fled the scene, traveled to a rural location in Payette County, and buried the handgun in a canal. The firearm was eventually recovered by law enforcement.
Salinas is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction for the distribution of methamphetamine. Salinas is a former gang member with a violent history, including a conviction for aiding and abetting assault resulting in serious bodily injury related to a prison stabbing.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Salinas to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Salians pleaded guilty to the federal firearm charge on October 20, 2021.
U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr., of the District of Idaho made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Payette County Sheriff’s Office, Fruitland Police Department, and the Payette County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which led to charges.
