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Federal grand jury indicts five Nampa/Meridian gang members, associates on drug and gun charges

Posted at 1:11 PM, Oct 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-12 18:38:51-04

A federal grand jury indicted five members and associates of the Sureno Mob Trece gang for crimes including drug distribution and unlawful possession of firearms, according to U.S. Attorney Bart Davis. The charges stem from an investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force. 

The indicted defendants are Sebastian Tate Levasseur, 22, of Nampa; Isaac Alexander Carreno, 20, of Nampa; Christian Bradley James Barker, 18, of Meridian; Abel Arturo Negrete, 41, of Nampa; and Thomas Antonio Pinto, 21, of Meridian.  All were indicted Wednesday.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office -–

Levasseur is charged with three counts of distribution of methamphetamine and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.  

Carreno is charged with two counts distribution of methamphetamine and two counts distribution of hydrocodone.  

Barker is charged with four counts distribution of methamphetamine.  

Negrete is charged with two counts unlawful possession of a firearm.  

Pinto is charged with one count distribution of methamphetamine.

Levasseur is currently in the custody of the Idaho Department of Corrections and Barker is currently in custody at the Ada County Jail.  

Negrete was arrested yesterday.  

Warrants have been issued for Pinto and Carreno.

Another 15 gang members or associates were indicted at the state level.

Federal drug trafficking 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.  Where some of the defendants are charged with distributing higher amounts of methamphetamine, they face a minimum term of incarceration of five years, with a maximum term of up to forty years in prison, a fine up to $5 million and at least four years supervised release, according to a news release from Davis’ office.  

The charge of unlawfully possessing a firearm is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release.  

The indictments are the result of an investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force.  The 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; the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and the Idaho Department of Corrections.