Man Busted in Gang Raid - Charged with Distributing Methamphetamine

CALDWELL -- Two men police are calling notorious gang members are in custody today – charged with distributing methamphetamine.
Lucio Esparza was arrested in a Caldwell home just after 5 a.m. – at the same time his father Alfredo Esparza Sr. was arrested in Nampa.
In addition to the meth distribution charges – police say they anticipate other charges will soon be filed. The men are being questioned by police.
The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Drug Enforcement Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Caldwell Police Department, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office and the Metro Violent Crimes Task Force have been working together for nearly eight months on the investigation – which led to federal charges against the pair.
Idaho State Police and Nampa Police assisted in this morning’s arrests.
Lucio Esparza was arrested at 1620 Fillmore in Nampa, and Alfredo Esparza Sr. was arrested at 801 Garden Valley Street in Nampa. Police also raided a third home at 1007 Chicago in Caldwell – two adults and a child in that home were arrested, but later released.
"I'm excited because we are getting rid of a neighborhood problem that we've had for years, since the latter part of the 1990s and all through 2000," neighbor Sharon O. Brown said.
Officers are combing over the home looking for evidence in the crimes, and are seizing property and vehicles – thought to be profits from criminal activity.
Investigators say they found money, drugs and guns inside the home.
ATF officials say the Esparzas have been known to say they were “untouchable” by law enforcement.
"The Esparza name has been well known in the law enforcement community and they've boasted over the years that they are untouchable,” Mark Leiser with Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms said “Today it’s important to know that law enforcement actually reached out and touched the Esparzas.”
School impacted
Students at nearby Washington Elementary in Caldwell were escorted around the Fillmore St. home by crossing guards this morning.
"We've been assured that everything is safe here and that everything is OK," Jonathan Cline with Caldwell Schools said. "We just want to keep the children protected and feel like everything is OK."
Cline said he was told to keep the situation very quiet until the last possible moment.
"First thing this morning I made some contacts and we made arrangement to have some people come in early so we can start bring the kids in so we can make them feel safe," he said.
Families of students who knew the family were told to keep their children home from school today.
Past charge
In October 2004, Lucio Esparza was charged with first degree murder for a drive-by shooting on Galveston in Caldwell. Police said at the time that Esparza and another man were responsible for shooting and killing Sigmund Goode, 21 of Caldwell.
He was not convicted in the crime. A judge dismissed the charges against Esparza and fellow defendant Ismael Tovar in September, 2005 after several witnesses admitted they lied during testimony.