BOISE – Raul Menchaca, 27, of Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced today to 92 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Menchaca to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term, forfeit a 9 millimeter semi-automatic pistol seized from his unlawful possession on March 11, 2011, and to have no contact with any gang members. Menchaca pleaded guilty to the charge in March 2012.

According to the plea agreement, on October 27, 2010, Menchaca sold approximately 2.8 grams of methamphetamine to an individual in Nampa for $225. Menchaca admitted that he knew the substance he sold was methamphetamine and that he intentionally distributed it.

In October and November 2011, Menchaca and ten other gang members and associates were indicted on drug trafficking and firearms charges. Menchaca is the sixth of these defendants to be sentenced to federal prison in the past three months for distributing methamphetamine in the Treasure Valley. Andres Marcos Trejo and Justin Nieto, both of Nampa, were sentenced to 46 months; Shawn Gordon of Caldwell to 121 months; Tiffany Stapleton of Nampa to 36 months; and Terra McFetridge, also of Nampa, to 33 months.

The case was investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force and is being prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southeast Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit www.treasurevalleypartners.org.