Three men from Washington State have been sentenced in federal court for their involvement in the activities of La Nuestra Familia (NF), a national prison gang. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian imposed sentences on Jacenir DaSilva, Jesus Mirelez, and Thomas Lee Weatherwax for various offenses related to gun charges, money laundering, and drug conspiracy.
Jacenir DaSilva of Moses Lake received a 120-month sentence for gun charges. Jesus Mirelez of Yakima was sentenced to 83 months for similar offenses. Thomas Lee Weatherwax of Spokane was given 75 months for money laundering and drug conspiracy, to be served after his current state sentence for Assault in the First Degree with a Deadly Weapon. All three will face supervised release following their prison terms.
Evidence presented during the case indicated that NF has been working to expand its influence in Washington State by spreading its doctrines and recruiting new members, including minors. The gang's rules are described as strict and non-negotiable, with leadership claiming their actions are meant to benefit Norteños under what they call “La Causa.” However, some former members say this cause is merely a front for criminal profit-making.
“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 prosecuted the 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 Pancho Villa Loco set in Moses Lake and held a key position within NF’s hierarchy as “the channel” for Grant County. He managed communications between incarcerated Norteños and those on the outside, facilitated meetings, moved money, enforced discipline within the organization, and participated in issuing violent orders against suspected informants.
He also oversaw Norteño interests at Green Hill School, a juvenile detention facility identified as a major recruitment site where young gang members are exposed to violence as part of their indoctrination.
Mirelez had previously been convicted on firearms charges after being linked through ballistic evidence to multiple shootings in Yakima Valley. Despite promising reform during sentencing in 2022, he quickly resumed criminal activity upon release—leading his local gang set into closer alignment with NF doctrine. He engaged in further violence against individuals he believed were rival gang members and endangered public safety by discarding firearms where children could find them.
Mirelez also helped collect mandatory payments from illicit activities on behalf of NF members and involved family members in attempts to retaliate against perceived informants.
Weatherwax continued criminal conduct while serving a lengthy state sentence at Washington State Penitentiary (WSP). He orchestrated schemes to smuggle drugs into prison facilities and launder proceeds back to NF leadership. Promoted within the organization’s Regimental Security Department Council at WSP, he was responsible for managing finances related to narcotics distribution across all Washington Department of Corrections facilities.
Weatherwax also took part in disciplinary actions ordered by NF leadership—including an incident where another inmate was assaulted after being removed from good standing.
United States Attorney Pete Serrano commented on ongoing threats posed by these individuals: “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 praised collaborative efforts among law enforcement agencies: “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 addressed concerns about organized crime: “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 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). Prosecutors Caitlin Baunsgard and Benjamin Seal handled the case.
