Three gang leaders from Washington state have been sentenced in federal court for their involvement in supporting the national prison gang La Nuestra Familia (NF). Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian imposed sentences on Jacenir DaSilva of Moses Lake, Jesus Mirelez of Yakima, and Thomas Lee Weatherwax of Spokane. DaSilva received 120 months in federal prison for gun charges, Mirelez was sentenced to 83 months for gun charges, and Weatherwax was given 75 months for money laundering and drug conspiracy charges, to be served after his current state sentence.
Court documents indicated that NF has been attempting to expand its influence into Washington State by promoting its strict doctrines among local gangs. The organization, which originated in the late 1960s, operates under a mandatory code of conduct and is known for using violence to further its objectives. Testimony showed that NF targets minors for recruitment, indoctrinating them with the expectation that they will commit crimes and eventually serve time in prison as part of the gang’s culture.
“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. “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 Pancho Villa Loco Norteño set in Moses Lake and was responsible for spreading NF teachings. He held a leadership position within NF’s hierarchy as “the channel” for Grant County, overseeing activities among various Norteño sets. Evidence showed he facilitated communications between incarcerated members and those on the streets, including involvement in issuing violent orders against suspected informants.
DaSilva also managed Norteño interests at Green Hill School, a juvenile detention facility described by witnesses as “Gladiator School” due to frequent conflicts between rival gangs. The facility has reportedly become a training ground where young recruits are indoctrinated into NF’s criminal lifestyle.
Mirelez had previously been convicted on firearms charges after being linked through ballistic evidence to multiple shootings in Yakima Valley. Despite assurances during sentencing that he would change his behavior, Mirelez resumed criminal activity shortly after release from custody. He assumed a leadership role within his local gang set La Raza (“LR”), continued participating in violent acts—including drive-by shootings—and involved family members in efforts to retaliate against perceived informants.
Weatherwax continued his involvement with NF while serving a lengthy state sentence at Washington State Penitentiary. He engaged in drug smuggling operations within the prison system and laundered proceeds from these activities. His organizational skills led to his promotion within NF’s Regimental Security Department Council at WSP, where he oversaw financial operations related to drug sales across multiple correctional facilities.
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 added: “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 stated: “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 involved several agencies including ATF Violent Crime Task Force, DEA, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Yakima Police Department (YPD), and Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Caitlin Baunsgard and Benjamin Seal.
