Fort Hall man sentenced to 5 years in prison for robbery at knifepoint

The following is a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.

POCATELLO – Malik Marin Ish, 23, of Fort Hall, was sentenced to 5 years in prison for robbery, acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced Wednesday.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge David C. Nye sentenced Ish on March 3 to 54.5 months in federal prison in addition to the 8.5 months of tribal jail time, which Ish served leading up to his sentencing.

According to court records, on February 19, 2024, Ish approached a man getting gasoline in his Jeep Cherokee at a gas station in Fort Hall and demanded the man’s vehicle at knifepoint. The man and Ish struggled for a time and Ish tried to stab him. Ish took the Jeep and crashed it a short distance away.

Fort Hall Police officers located Ish later that day and recognized him as the robbery suspect, based on the unique red clothing he was wearing. Police officers also obtained video surveillance from the gas station, which showed Ish as the robber.

Chief Judge Nye also ordered Ish to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Ish pleaded guilty to the charge in December 2024. Ish will also concurrently serve 21 months for a supervised release violation from an earlier conviction.

Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Hall Police Department for their joint investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Haycock prosecuted this case.