Nampa Woman Gets 20 Years for Meth Deal

​Nampa Woman Gets 20 Years for Meth Deal

BOISE, Idaho – Veronica Cantu, 27, of Nampa, Idaho, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for distributing methamphetamine, as part of a large-scale Norteno gang investigation.

Cantu pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to distributing a quarter ounce of methamphetamine to an undercover informant, who was working with law enforcement. The informant was introduced to Cantu by co-defendant Tara Rivera, who unwittingly arranged the deal.

According to the plea agreement, Cantu sold the informant the methamphetamine in November 2014. Cantu was a fugitive at the time, with an outstanding warrant for her arrest. She was eventually apprehended in Michigan in November 2015.

The investigation, led by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, resulted in 14 indictments against members of the Norteno gang. Twelve of those defendants have already been sentenced, including several for distributing methamphetamine.

Guadalupe Serrano, 35, of Caldwell, received 75 months in prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and for possessing firearms in furtherance of the crime. Other defendants, including Nicole Danelle Nieto, Jose Manuel Menchaca, and Johnny Lee Martinez, received sentences ranging from 24 to 66 months for distributing methamphetamine.

The investigation was a joint effort between 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 includes agencies from federal, state, and local law enforcement, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Boise Police Department.

Cantu is scheduled to serve her sentence in a federal prison, with a minimum term of three years supervised release. She will be sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill on July 20, 2016.