DA Chris Hicks is announcing both a sentencing and a guilty verdict in connection to two drug cases in Washoe County.

Kengji Battle has been given 10-25 years in prison, after he pled guilty to Trafficking a Controlled Substance. Battle was arrested by Reno Police detectives last September, after they learned that he had been trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in the community. On September 23^rd, 2024 a Washoe County Sheriff’s deputy pulled Battle over for speeding and called for backup from the Northern Nevada Interdiction Task Force, which included a K9. After the dog alerted to narcotics, a search of the car found 3 pounds of methamphetamine, a quarter pound of cocaine, and 0.33 pounds of fentanyl. This equates to 6,800 doses of meth, 570 doses of cocaine, and 6,040 doses of fentanyl. The Honorable Kathleen Sigurdson presided and imposed the sentence.

A jury has convicted Efrain Salazar-Gurrola of Trafficking a Controlled Substance. Reno Police was told that the defendant was selling heroin and methamphetamine in the area, back in mid-September of 2022. In an operation organized by the Regional Narcotics Unit, a meeting was scheduled for a buy of two pounds of meth. When detectives and K9 deputies moved to arrest Salazar-Gurrola, he attempted to run away but was subsequently caught. A search of his car recovered more than two pounds of meth in a bag on the driver’s seat, which equals more than 5,000 doses.

Deputy District Attorney Michael Vieta-Kabell represented the State on both cases. Sentencing for Salazar-Gurrola is set for December 18^th, where DDA Vieta-Kabell plans to argue for the maximum sentence of life with parole eligibility after ten years.

Audio of press release for Battle and Salazar

Kengji Battle

Efrain-Salazar-Gurrola