Fiame Manase Soifua and Pasamino Limatau Jr. were part of a gang specializing in violent home-invasion robberies, terrorizing their victims in a rampage for drugs and money.
Last week, the two were sentenced to up to life in what will be their new home, the Utah State Prison.
Prosecutor Vince Meister said the six-member gang usually targeted drug dealers who owed money to its ringleader. But Feb. 3, the gangsters hit the home of Tony Huff, who has no ties to the drug culture.
Because of evidentiary problems, the gangsters were charged only in the Huff case.
Besides Soifua, 20, and Limatau, 19, those charged with aggravated burglary and five counts of aggravated kidnapping were Jody Joe McDonald, 39; Isaac Michael Ontiveros, 20; Taouma Maeaeafe Seve, 19; and Tui Aulaumea, 18.
Meister said McDonald "let them stay at his place and gave them food and drugs in exchange for doing his drug-debt collections."
Some of the gangsters faced prison terms of 114 years. Still, only Ontiveros, set for trial in January, has not entered a plea bar-gain.
On Friday, Soifua pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery, and went to prison for five years to life.
Limatau, who allegedly put a gun to the head of a mother and child, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated burglary, with gun and gang enhancements. He went to prison for 10 years to life.
"The court must impose prison time because of the nature of how this occurred - the gang aspect and that firearms were used," said 3rd District Judge Frank Noel.
Arguing for a reduced sentence for Limatau, defense attorney David Angerhofer called McDonald the "real culprit. He got them hooked in meth and had them do his dirty work. He was an extremely sophisticated individual who pulled these boys into doing his bidding."
Limatua, who insists he did not point his gun at the child's head, has two young children and was married two weeks ago.
Defense attorney James Claflin argued that Soifua should get probation.
"It's a lulu. It's a doozy," conceded Claflin. "But he's a little bit of a follower who is now showing leadership qualities" by taking responsibility for his actions.