On Tuesday, three individuals were sentenced for their involvement in a large narcotics trafficking operation that flooded Reno with over 33 kilograms of methamphetamine. These individuals were convicted for conspiring to distribute the illegal drug, which was sold in pounds for thousands of dollars.
The trio – 64-year-old Maria Valenzuela, 38-year-old Xochitl Sanchez-Pacheco from Sinaloa, Mexico, and 25-year-old Saul Nolasco of Lodi, California – all pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to the distribution and possession of methamphetamine. United States District Judge Miranda M. Du sentenced Sanchez-Pacheco to 30 months in prison, Valenzuela to 33 months, and Nolasco to 41 months.
Court documents and statements revealed that between January 20, 2023, and October 8, 2023, the defendants conspired to distribute 33 kilos of methamphetamine in the Reno area. Nolasco played a key role in the operation, collaborating with his brother in Mexico and managing the trafficking network in Nevada and California. He handled large cash transactions, stored methamphetamine at his home, and supplied it to multiple buyers in Reno and surrounding areas.
Valenzuela, responsible for transporting pounds of methamphetamine, would collect payments in cash for the narcotics group. In November 2023, Valenzuela and her daughter were apprehended at a border crossing with 97 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in their vehicle’s trap chambers.
Sanchez-Pacheco’s role involved transporting large quantities of methamphetamine between Reno and Modesto, California, and collecting payments from her deliveries, one of which included $5,500 in cash.
A fourth defendant, 54-year-old Bobby Jo Kissel, pleaded guilty to similar charges in October 2024 and is awaiting sentencing. The investigation, which involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the DEA, HSI, Nevada Department of Investigation, and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, led to these convictions. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andolyn Johnson.
The sentencing is a part of ongoing efforts by authorities to combat drug trafficking and distribution in Nevada.
