Gardnerville gang member gets federal prison time

A Gardnerville gang member received 51 months in federal prison after admitting to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.

Jay Loren Prater, 41, was arrested in October on a federal indictment after an Aug. 25, 2021, traffic stop revealed he had a loaded Glock 17, 9mm pistol in the center console, around 15 grams of methamphetamine, along with other drug paraphernalia related distribution.

He admitted the charge in March and was sentenced June 27 by Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du.

According to court documents, Prater is a member of the Northern Riders, a California prison gang, and formerly a member of several disbanded motorcycle gangs in the region.

Prater is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior felony conviction for voluntary manslaughter in San Joaquin County, California. He later admitted to carrying the firearm while selling methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin Adams for the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverley made the announcement on Wednesday.

This case was investigated by members of the Regional Gang Task Force, comprised of investigators from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, as well as ATF and DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andolyn Johnson prosecuted the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime.