Three members of a drug trafficking ring have been sentenced after pleading guilty to distributing large amounts of methamphetamine in Reno. Saul Nolasco, Maria Valenzuela, and Xochitl Sanchez-Pacheco faced the consequences of their involvement in a conspiracy that infiltrated drugs into the community, with quantities exceeding 33 kilograms.
On Tuesday, United States District Judge Miranda M. Du handed down the sentences. Nolasco received 41 months, Valenzuela got 33 months, and Sanchez-Pacheco was sentenced to 30 months in prison. The court revealed, a detailed account of their operation from January to October 2023, showcasing their roles in a larger, transnational network.
A source within law enforcement, specified the tasks each defendant undertook within the organization. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Nolasco, based in Lodi, California, served as the on-ground operative for the Nevada and California areas, managing cash flow, storage, and distribution of the drugs. In contrast, Valenzuela's responsibilities included the transportation and exchange of methamphetamine, collecting payments on behalf of the syndicate. Sanchez-Pacheco played a similar role, delivering methamphetamine and managing the financial transactions in both Reno and Modesto, California.
Notably, an incident in November 2023 involved Valenzuela attempting to move 97 pounds of methamphetamine across the U.S.-Mexico border using a van with secret compartments. Meanwhile, Sanchez-Pacheco's dealings once included an exchange of $5,500. Bobby Jo Kissel, the fourth co-defendant implicated in the conspiracy, pled guilty last October and is currently awaiting sentencing.
Various law enforcement agencies collaborated to bring down this operation, which was investigated by the DEA and others within the Regional Narcotics Unit, the Washoe County Sherriff’s Office K-9 Unit, Modesto Police Department, HSI, USMS, Nevada Department of Investigation, and Nevada Highway Patrol. The effort formed part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces initiative focused on disrupting high-level criminal organizations.
