WCDA Sentencing Results in Drug Cases

WCDA Releases Details of Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking Sentences

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has secured sentencings in two separate felony prosecutions.  The cases both involved charges of trafficking of a controlled substance.

Alan Ybarra-Rojas, age 42 from California was sentenced to 20 years with eligibility for parole at 8 years. Ybarra-Rojas was arrested by Washoe County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) deputies assigned to the Northern Nevada Interdiction Task Force (NNITF) in September of 2022. During a traffic stop on Ybarra-Rojas, a K9 unit provided a positive alert of a controlled substance in the vehicle. While searching the vehicle, 1,274 grams (2.8 pounds) of M-30 fentanyl pills and 16.33 grams (0.036 pounds) of cocaine were discovered. Ybarra-Rojas ultimately pled guilty to trafficking of a schedule II controlled substance, 100 grams or more.

Gary Biagi, age 64 from California was sentenced to 20 years with eligibility for parole after 6 years. Biagi was arrested by Reno Police Department (RPD) detectives from the Regional Narcotics Unit (RNU) in 2020. In early October of 2020, RNU was informed that Biagi was travelling to the Reno/Sparks area and selling methamphetamine. Based on this information, an investigation was initiated and on October 12, 2020, detectives with RNU arrested Biagi at the Peppermill with three (3) pounds of methamphetamine. Biagi ultimately pled guilty to trafficking of a schedule I controlled substance, 100 grams or more.

At the sentencing hearings for the two cases Deputy District Attorney Michael Vieta-Kabell urged the Court to issue the lengthy sentences noting the devastating effects drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine were having on vulnerable people in Washoe County. Mr. Vieta-Kabell also stated the District Attorney’s Office and the other agencies involved refused to tolerate people bringing these substances into our community.