Nampa Residents Indicted on Gun Charges

January 15, 2010 - Six Nampa residents were indicted by a federal grand jury on firearms-related charges in Boise on January 12, 2010. The indictments were returned in three separate cases. In the first case, Juan Carlos Ortiz, 18, is charged with two counts of unlawful transfer of a firearm. Ortiz is accused of transferring a firearm to an individual with knowledge that the individual was prohibited from possessing firearms. Ortiz faces a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison, 10 years on each count.

In the second case, Yesenia Clara Ortiz, 32, and Emiliano Tito Cortez, 25, are charged with unlawfully possessing firearms. Ortiz and Cortez are accused of possessing firearms after being convicted of crimes punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year. Yesenia Clara Ortiz was indicted on two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, and Emiliano Tito Cortez was indicted on three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition. Each count carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Ortiz faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and Cortez faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.

In the third case, Elyze Monique Zuniga, 24, Jesus Manuel Zuniga, 25, and Zaul Zuniga, 38, are each charged with two counts of unlawful transfer of an unregistered firearm. All three are accused of selling two shotguns that had been modified to an illegal length. Jesus Manuel Zuniga and Zaul Zuniga were also indicted on two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. Both are accused of possessing two shotguns that had been modified to an illegal length after being convicted of crimes punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year. Each count carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Elyze Monique Zuniga faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Jesus Manuel Zuniga and Zaul Zuniga each face a maximum term of imprisonment of 60 years.

These cases have been assigned to U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge. The Court will set each defendant’s initial appearance date.

These cases were investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, which includes detectives and agents from local and federal law enforcement agencies throughout the Treasure Valley. An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity. It is not evidence. The person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.