Press Release
Two More Defendants Sentenced in Nampa Gang Investigation
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Idaho
Nampa Man and Woman Sentenced to Prison and Another Nampa Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Methamphetamine
BOISE – Jose Manuel Menchaca, 35, of Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ordered Menchaca to serve four years of supervised release following his prison term, during which Menchaca may not have contact with documented gang members. Menchaca pleaded guilty to the charge on March 10, 2015.
In a related case, Nicole Danelle Nieto, 31, also of Nampa, was sentenced on May 26, 2015, to 41 months in prison for distributing methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Nieto to serve three years of supervised release following her prison term. Nieto pleaded guilty to the charge on March 9, 2015.
According to the plea agreement, Menchaca sold methamphetamine to a police informant in February 2013. Menchaca sold methamphetamine to a second police informant in March and April 2014.
According to information presented in court, Nieto sold methamphetamine to a police informant on three occasions. Law enforcement agents obtained a search warrant and searched Nieto’s residence on June 18, 2014, and located additional methamphetamine. Nieto admitted that she sold methamphetamine.
In a related case, Michael David Bradshaw, 31, also of Nampa, pleaded guilty on May 26, 2015, to distributing methamphetamine. Bradshaw admitted that he sold methamphetamine to a police informant in Caldwell, Idaho, on September 16, 2013, and October 9, 2013.
At the time of sentencing, Bradshaw faces a minimum of five years in prison and up to forty years, a maximum fine of $5 million, and a minimum term of four years supervised release. Bradshaw is scheduled to be sentenced on August 6, 2015, by Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Boise.
Menchaca, Nieto, and Bradshaw were all charged as a result of an investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, which focused on the “Norteno” Northside gang that is active in Nampa and other parts of the Treasure Valley. Fourteen individuals were indicted on drug and gun charges as a result of the investigation. In addition to Menchaca and Nieto, one other defendant has been sentenced. Guadalupe Serrano was sentenced on April 21, 2015, to 75 months in prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and for possessing firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime. Bradshaw was the ninth defendant to plead guilty. The others that have pleaded guilty include Serrano, Menchaca, Nieto, Johnny Lee Martinez, 33, Guillermo Farias Jr., 29, Brandi Marie Larrea, 31, Tara Noelle Rivera, 30, all from Nampa, and Kenny P. Breedlove, 35, from California. Two others are scheduled for trial including Richard Lobato, 51, from Nampa, and Isaac Bright, 21, from Caldwell. Three other defendants have outstanding warrants, including Jose Enrique Olvera Jr., 51, Ruben Rodriguez, 36, and Veronica Cantu, 26, all from Nampa.
These cases are the result of a joint investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force and the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force is comprised of federal, state and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Boise Police Department; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and Idaho Department of Probation and Parole. The Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), includes the cooperative law enforcement efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and U.S. Marshals Service. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
These cases are 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 southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit treasurevalleypartners.org.
Updated May 28, 2015
Topic
Drug Trafficking
Component