Police say they've arrested an Idaho man following an investigation into the alleged theft of $40,000 from a local Reno nonprofit youth basketball program.
Police say the investigation began after Reno Tropics Basketball, a local nonprofit youth basketball program, reported that it had been defrauded while attempting to complete the construction of its basketball facility in south Reno.
As part of the project, Reno Tropics was seeking to buy and install a hardwood basketball court. During the process, program representatives were connected with the general manager of a reputable basketball flooring company based in Idaho.
Police say the suspect communicated with representatives of Reno Tropics and provided an invoice requesting a $40,000 deposit for the basketball court. The nonprofit subsequently then wired the funds to the bank account listed on the invoice.
Over the following months, the suspect allegedly continued communicating with representatives of Reno Tropics and led them to believe the basketball court was being constructed.
Then, in April 2026, police say Reno Tropics learned that the flooring company had no record of the project and that its staff and vice president were unaware of the transaction. Investigators say they determined the $40,000 payment had been deposited directly into the suspect's personal bank account rather than an account belonging to the flooring company.
Investigators determined that a basketball court was never constructed or began construction for Reno Tropics.
Following the investigation, the Washoe County District Attorney's Office charged 51-year-old Jared Deveraux with:
* Obtain Money by False Pretense – $25,000 to $100,000
* Possess Forged Instrument
* Utter Forged Instrument
* Theft – $25,000 to $100,000
On August 14, 2026, the suspect was arrested in Pocatello, Idaho, by the Bannock County Sheriff's Office Street Crimes Unit and the Idaho Department of Corrections Parole and Probation.
The suspect is currently being held at the Bannock County Jail awaiting extradition to the Washoe County Jail. A warrant has been issued with bail set at $500,000.
(Reno Police contributed to this report.)
