Idaho man charged with selling firearms without a license

The following is a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office (Idaho).

BOISE – A federal grand jury in Boise returned an indictment on Nov. 13, charging 27-year-old Luke James Estep of Boise with trafficking firearms without a license, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced.

The two-count indictment alleges that Estep, who is not a licensed gun dealer, sold firearms in October 2024. If convicted, he faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will decide the sentence taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.

Estep was arrested on November 14 and booked into the Ada County Jail. Estep appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debora K. Grasham on Monday and pleaded not guilty. A jury trial is scheduled for January 6, 2025, in federal court in Boise before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Meridian Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Horwitz is prosecuting the case.