Nampa Drug Pushers Plead Guilty to Meth Charges

BOISE, ID – The grimy streets of Nampa were hit with a shockwave as Jose Manuel Menchaca, 35, and Nicole Danelle Nieto, 31, pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine in a federal court. This admission by the duo comes after a relentless investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force.

According to the grim details, Nieto was caught selling meth to an undercover cop twice in June 2014. Her home was a meth den, with drugs recovered on June 18th, the same day she confessed her crime.

Menchaca, on the other hand, has been a more frequent visitor to the dark side, selling meth three times to police informants. He now faces up to four decades in prison for his actions.

Both were indicted separately in October 2014 but are part of a sweeping investigation into the notorious “Norteno” Northside gang. Their cases are just two of many, with fourteen individuals indicted on drug and gun charges following the probe.

The potential sentences are severe: Menchaca could spend up to 40 years behind bars with fines reaching $5 million, while Nieto is staring down a 20-year sentence with fines totaling $1 million. Their sentencing dates have been set for May 28th and 26th, respectively, before Judge Edward J. Lodge in Boise.

This operation was a joint effort between the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force and the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). Federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, ATF, ICE, IRS-CI, and U.S. Marshals Service were involved, with the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney leading the prosecution efforts. The Treasure Valley Partnership, a group of regional elected officials, played a key role in ensuring a coordinated response to gang-related crimes.

These cases are a stark reminder of the relentless pursuit of justice by federal and local agencies against those who trade in the streets’ darkest commodities. Stay tuned for updates as these sentences are handed down.