A man who was found guilty at trial of six drug charges and four gun charges has been sentenced to 79 years in prison with parole eligibility after 25 years. Damion Banks (dob 11/1/94) was arrested by Reno Police officers on August 27, 2024, after someone reported that he was selling drugs out of his car on Lake Street.
When officers arrived, they found Banks in the driver’s seat stuffing a bag of heroin into his pants pocket. The officers also saw a Smith & Wesson handgun next to Banks as well as methamphetamine and fentanyl in plain view inside the vehicle. A search of both the defendant and the car uncovered 852.49 grams (almost two pounds) of methamphetamine, 110.4 grams of fentanyl, 38 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl, 9.5 grams of cocaine, and 15.52 grams of marijuana. In addition to the Smith & Wesson handgun police also found a Glock handgun modified with a custom switch making it capable of fully automatic fire. Banks was prohibited from possessing any firearms because of prior felony convictions for drug sales, and assault likely to cause great bodily injury out of California.
Banks was convicted by a jury of the 10 counts in this case in March of this year: Trafficking 400 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Trafficking 100 Grams or More of Fentanyl; Possessing between 28 and 42 Grams of Heroin; Possessing under 14 Grams of Cocaine; Possessing all of the Controlled Substances for Sale; Possession of a Modified Semi-Automatic Firearm; Possession of a Machine Gun; Conspiring to Violate the Uniform Controlled Substance Act; and two counts of Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
At sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Michael Vieta-Kabell asked the Honorable Barry Breslow to sentence Banks to a lengthy term in prison to protect the community and pointed out that Banks had proven he was incapable of reform. He also noted the Banks was damaging the community by selling multiple different deadly drugs and demonstrating a clear willingness to kill to protect his methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Nathaniel Harriel (dob 6/14/79) has been adjudicated as a Habitual Offender in a drug and firearm case. The defendant was sentenced to 10-25 years on one count of Owning or Possessing a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, and a concurrent 24-60 months on one count of Sell or Transport a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance.
The Regional Crime Suppression Unit (RCSU), which is comprised of officers from the Reno and Sparks Police Departments, began an investigation after detectives learned Harriel was selling methamphetamine. An undercover (UC) detective communicated with Harriel, and Harriel agreed to sell methamphetamine in exchange for a firearm. The defendant was arrested in September of 2024 by the RCSU after meeting in person with the UC detective, selling him methamphetamine, and purchasing a firearm.
Harriel’s prior criminal history includes felony convictions for Battery by a Probationer, Unlawful Sexual Intercourse, Inflicting Corporal Injury to a Spouse, Failure to Comply with Laws Requiring Registration as a Sex Offender, Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm (two convictions), and Assault with Force Likely to Produce Great Bodily Injury.
He was sentenced as a Habitual Offender due to having been previously convicted of at least seven prior felonies. In requesting Harriel be adjudicated as a Habitual Offender, Deputy District Attorney Hillary Bunker focused on the length of Harriel’s criminal history, his prior firearm and violent convictions, and the opportunities he had previously been given for probation. The Honorable Lynne Jones presided and imposed the sentence.
Damion Banks
Nathaniel Harriel
