Fifteen West Side Loma Gang Members and Associates Indicted in Federal Court

BOISE – A federal grand jury indicted fifteen members and associates of the West Side Loma gang for drug trafficking and firearms crimes, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today. The charges stem from an investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force.

The charged defendants are Kristina Alvarado, 38, of Nampa; Marvin Arredondo, 30, of Parma; Vanessa Campos, 31, of Caldwell; Brooks Case, 32, of Star; Javier Deluna, 29, of Nampa; Alfredo Esparza, Jr., 48, of Nampa; Leno Esparza, 28, of Nampa; Elisa Mata, 34, of Nampa; Arturo Fuentes, 41, of Caldwell; Alex Ibarra, 21, of Homedale; Stephen Janoushek, 66, of Meridian; Lorensa Muniz, 32, of Caldwell; Miriam Murillo, 33, of Nampa; Harley Ogburn, 27, of Nampa; and Breanna Stell, 28, of Parma. All were indicted on November 13, 2019.

All fifteen defendants are charged with distribution of methamphetamine with most charged for distributing more pure amounts of methamphetamine. Arredondo is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm. Alvarado, Case, and Stell were already in custody at Canyon County Jail. Ibarra, Mata, Murillo, and Ogburn were already in custody at Idaho Department of Correction. Arredondo, Campos, Deluna, Alfredo Esparza, Jr., Fuentes, Janoushek, and Muniz were arrested earlier this week. Leno Esparza remains at large.

Federal methamphetamine distribution charges are generally punishable by up to twenty years in prison, a fine up to $1 million, and at least three years of supervised release. Defendants charged with distributing more than five grams of pure methamphetamine face a minimum term of five years and up to forty years in prison, a fine up to $5 million, and a minimum of four years supervised release. Defendants charged with distributing more than fifty grams of pure methamphetamine face a minimum term of ten years and up to life in prison, a fine up to $10 million, and a minimum of five years supervised release.

The charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm are punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force was created in 2005 and is comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies including Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Boise Police Department; Caldwell Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; Meridian Police Department; Nampa Police Department; and Idaho Department of Correction. The Task Force conducts complex, long-term investigations of criminal gangs.

These cases are being prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership, the Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, 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 in creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit treasurevalleypartners.org.

An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity. It is not evidence. A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.