The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office announced two recent sentencings in separate drug and firearm cases involving convicted felons.
30-year-old Damion Banks, was sentenced to 79 years in prison with parole eligibility after 25 years following a jury conviction on 10 felony counts, including high-level drug trafficking and gun possession.
Banks was arrested on August 27, 2024, after Reno Police responded to a report that he was selling drugs from a car on Lake Street.
According to the WCDA when officers arrived, they found Banks attempting to hide a bag of heroin in his pants.
A Smith & Wesson handgun was next to him, and methamphetamine and fentanyl were in plain view.
A search uncovered nearly two pounds of methamphetamine, more than 100 grams of fentanyl, heroin laced with fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, and a modified Glock handgun capable of fully automatic fire.
Because of prior felony convictions in California for drug sales and assault likely to cause great bodily injury, Banks was prohibited from possessing any guns.
In March, a jury found Banks guilty of trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl, multiple possession-for-sale charges, possession of a modified firearm and machine gun, conspiracy to violate drug laws, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
At sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Michael Vieta-Kabell told the court that Banks had shown he was "incapable of reform" and had a "clear willingness to kill to protect his methamphetamine and fentanyl."
In a separate case, 45-year-old Nathaniel Harriel, was sentenced as a habitual offender for charges related to selling drugs and possessing a gun.
Harriel was sentenced to 10 to 25 years for owning or possessing a gun as a prohibited person and a concurrent 24 to 60 months for selling or transporting a Schedule I controlled substance.
The Regional Crime Suppression Unit (RCSU), made up of Reno and Sparks Police detectives, began investigating Harriel after learning he was selling methamphetamine.
An undercover officer arranged to buy drugs in exchange for a gun.
Harriel was arrested in September 2024 after the in-person exchange.
Harriel has at least seven prior felony convictions, including battery by a probationer, unlawful sexual intercourse, corporal injury to a spouse, failure to register as a sex offender, firearm violations, and assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury.
Deputy District Attorney Hillary Bunker requested the habitual offender sentencing, citing Harriel’s extensive criminal history and repeated probation violations. The Honorable Lynne Jones imposed the sentence.
