A months-long investigation in Reno led to multiple arrests and the dismantling of an alleged counterfeit check fraud operation that impacted businesses across Washoe County.
In December 2025, detectives with the Reno Police Department Property Crimes Unit initiated an investigation into a counterfeit check fraud operation impacting businesses throughout Washoe County.
Over several months, detectives gathered intelligence, conducted numerous victim interviews, and identified a group of suspects allegedly involved in an organized fraud ring. Investigators said the group used information from lost and stolen checks and identification cards to create counterfeit checks. Those checks were then cashed at various businesses across Washoe County.
On Feb. 17, 2026, members of the Reno Police Department Property Crimes Unit, with assistance from Reno patrol officers and Washoe County Sheriff's Office deputies, arrested 26-year-old Antony Ruiz-Ayala and 34-year-old Uriel Soto.
Ruiz-Ayala faces charges including possession of a forged instrument, uttering a forged instrument, forgery, conspiracy to obtain money under false pretenses, intent to utter a forged instrument, attempt to utter a forged instrument, identity theft to harm another person, and obtaining money under false pretenses.
Soto faces charges including conspiracy to obtain money under false pretenses and attempt to utter a forged instrument.
On March 4, 2026, detectives served a search warrant at a home in South Reno, where they located and dismantled a fraudulent document production operation, commonly referred to as a fraud laboratory. Detectives arrested 46-year-old Jesus Sanchez-Paez.
Sanchez-Paez faces charges including possession of a fraudulent laboratory, conspiracy to utter a forged instrument, identity theft to harm another person, forgery, possession of forged instruments, possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, and failure to register as a convicted person.
On March 6, 2026, detectives arrested 45-year-old Jennifer Perasso. She faces charges including attempting to obtain money or goods under false pretenses under $25,000, conspiracy to utter a forged instrument, identity theft to harm another person, forgery, possession of forged instruments, possession of a fraud laboratory, and possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, first offense.
Throughout the investigation, detectives determined that numerous local businesses and people in the community were impacted by the fraud scheme.
The Reno Police Department encourages people to safeguard personal identifying information, including checkbooks, credit cards, identification cards, and Social Security information, to reduce the risk of identity theft.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to call the Reno Police Department non-emergency line at (775) 334-2121, or contact Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900 or secretwitness.com.
