Three local gang leaders have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in facilitating the activities of La Nuestra Familia (NF), a national prison gang. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Jacenir DaSilva of Moses Lake, Washington, to 120 months in federal prison on gun charges; Jesus Mirelez of Yakima, Washington, to 83 months on gun charges; and Thomas Lee Weatherwax of Spokane, Washington, to 75 months on money laundering and drug conspiracy charges. Weatherwax’s sentence will be served after he completes his current state prison term for Assault in the First Degree with a Deadly Weapon. All three will also serve terms of supervised release following their incarceration.
According to evidence presented at sentencing, NF has sought to expand its influence into Washington State by promoting its doctrines and enforcing strict rules among members. The group’s leadership claims to act for the benefit of Norteños under what they call “La Causa” or the “NF Movement.” However, former members have described these ideals as a pretext for generating revenue through criminal activity.
The organization has focused recruitment efforts on minors, indoctrinating them into gang life with promises that adherence to NF rules will allow them to maintain status if they are incarcerated. Advancement within the gang is tied to committing violent acts.
“These pervasive criminals intentionally seek out the next generation with the explicit goal of turning children into criminals (they call ‘soldiers’) with full knowledge that these children will be part of the gang for the rest of their lives, and commit crimes both inside and outside of prisons across the Nation to further a bill-of-goods they’ve been sold,” said Unit Chief Caitlin Baunsgard, Assistant United States Attorney who handled this case. “The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington will not stand idly by and watch this happen. We have and will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute these predators.”
DaSilva led the Moses Lake Norteño set Pancho Villa Loco (“PVL”) and acted as “channel” for Grant County—overseeing activities across multiple Norteño sets. He was involved in organizing meetings, passing messages between incarcerated members and those on the outside, facilitating financial transactions related to gang activity, and participating in internal investigations into misconduct. DaSilva also managed Norteño interests at Green Hill School, a juvenile detention facility described as a “training ground” for young recruits.
Mirelez was previously convicted in federal court for unlawful possession of firearms linked by ballistic evidence to six shooting scenes in Yakima Valley during 2022. Despite assurances during his prior sentencing that he would change his behavior, Mirelez resumed criminal activity shortly after release—including leading his local Norteño set La Raza (“LR”), engaging in drive-by shootings, evading police while discarding firearms near public areas, and helping other NF members pay mandatory dues from illegal profits. He also enlisted his mother’s help in attempting to identify an informant.
Weatherwax continued criminal conduct while serving a lengthy state sentence at Washington State Penitentiary (WSP). As a member of Red Boyz from Spokane and later as head of finance within NF’s Regimental Security Department Council at WSP, he oversaw drug smuggling operations inside prison facilities and managed financial records related to proceeds from narcotics sales. Weatherwax was responsible for supervising other inmates aligned with NF interests throughout Washington Department of Corrections institutions.
United States Attorney Pete Serrano commented: “even removing these predators from our communities and putting them behind bars has not been enough to stop them from engaging in ongoing violent crimes and victimizing our communities”. Serrano emphasized coordinated law enforcement efforts: “The conduct of NF members is unconscionable, but it will always be outmatched by the dedication and commitment of the US Attorney’s Office, ATF, BOP and our federal, state and tribal partnerships. The significant sentences imposed in these cases reflects the lengths to which federal law enforcement will go to protect our communities from being preyed upon by dangerous gang members.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais added: “These defendants and their criminal enterprise brought the blight of illegal guns, violence, and fear into our communities. Dangerous gangs like La Nuestra Familia think they can take root in our cities and operate freely, threatening our citizens’ safety. I am here with a clear and unwavering message: ATF and our law enforcement partners will stop at nothing to bring them and every single one of their co-conspirators to justice.”
The investigation was conducted by agencies including ATF Violent Crime Task Force; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Prisons; Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Indian Affairs; Yakima Police Department; and Washington State Department of Corrections. Prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Caitlin Baunsgard and Benjamin Seal.
