Reno youth activist Roberto Nerey arrested for allegedly selling crystal meth

9/1/2010

An outspoken Reno youth activist who went to prison in the 1990s in connection to a drive-by gang shooting was arrested this morning on charges he sold large quantities of crystal methamphetamine during a drug task force investigation.

Roberto Nerey, 39, was arrested on two counts of trafficking crystal methamphetamine. He is accused of selling more than two ounces of the drug during two separate controlled drug buys, authorities said.

For the past two decades, Nerey has crusaded in Reno against youth gang activity, and has been outspoken about police and politics regarding local Latino affairs.

Nerey is currently the executive director of Guiding A New Generation, a non-profit organization that says it gives youth an alternative to gang activity, such as providing training on boxing and rebuilding car engines.

He is also the author of "An American Latino's Story of Gang's, Prison and Redemption - If Only I Had Known."

During a 2005 interview with the Reno Gazette-Journal on a story about juveniles and firearms, Nerey said that when he was a youth gangster he carried a gun because he was afraid of being harmed and wanted to intimidate others. He served a prison term in 1990 after being convicted of conspiracy to commit murder.

"Adults and professionals need to better educate our children and send a message that kids are really going to jail and dying," he said then. "A lot of kids are walking around blindfolded and don’t realize the consequences."

If convicted on these drug charges, Nerey faces a term of life in prison.

According to his Facebook.com page, Nerey said he will be the G.A.N.G. executive director for the remainder of the year. He said "Come January of 2011, I will be running and involved in a completely different career (sic), which is writing. I actually (sic) looking forward to it."

Back To News Listing