Guilty Verdicts in Fraud Cases

WCDA Prosecutor Secures Convictions in Pair of Trials Involving Forgery Lab

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has secured convictions against a defendant charged with multiple counts of fraud, as well as burglary and possession of a controlled substance. Jamie Merie Lambdin, 32, rom Reno was convicted in two separate jury trials held over the last two weeks.  Her charges included one count of Burglary, three counts of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, one count of Establishing a Financial Forgery Lab one count of Possession of a Forged Instrument and one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Sentencing is set for February 28, 2019 in department 10 of District Court. In total for both cases, Lambdin faces up to 50 years in prison.  

The cases against Lambdin began in September, 17 when a male victim in the case noticed his banking account had been compromised. As a result, he cancelled his existing bank cards and ordered new ones.  He subsequently noticed that his replacement debit card had been activated and used at three locations in Meadowood Mall.  He proactively obtained information from his bank for each of the fraudulent transaction and took that information to the mall where the owner of one of the stores assisted by providing video surveillance of the suspect making the purchases.  The victim obtained a still photo from this video and placed it on Facebook in an attempt to identify the suspect. A short time later, the victim received a response from an acquaintance identifying a profile that matched the suspect later identified as Lambdin.  The victim had previously contacted the Reno Police Department and patrol officers obtained additional video from another store involved in the fraud.  That video also depicted Lambdin using the same card to make a large purchase at a shoe store.  RPD submitted the case to this office and requested a warrant. 

While the warrant for the above case was pending, RPD Fraud Detectives were working on a separate fraudulent check case involving the Grand Sierra Resort. They ultimately became focused on a room in the hotel.  When detectives attempted contact with the occupants, they encountered Lambdin and a male companion.   The room was found to contain equipment consistent with a forgery lab, to include a computer, printer, digital cameras, laminate paper, multiple cell phones, multiple fake ID’s in different names with Lambdin’s face applied, notebooks full of personal identifying information of others, and methamphetamine.  Detectives also discovered various fake identification cards, which were being printed in the image of the male occupant on card stock and thought to be test prints.

A warrant was obtained and a forensic analysis conducted on the electronic devices and Lambdin’s computer found multiple files of tax returns of possible victims.  The defendant’s computer also contained templates and guides on the production of fake identification documents and she possessed check printing software, check stock, and instructions on how to print checks.  Finally, a fake social security card was found on the computer in the same name as one of Lambdin’s fake identification cards. A search of her phone located multiple ID templates and other images consistent with the production of fraudulent identification and identity theft. Lambdin was arrested for the forgery lab related charges in January, 2018. She was subsequently booked on the prior fraud case involving the Meadowood Mall store purchases and pled not guilty. The male occupant, Aaron George Quintana, was also arrested and pled guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Possess a Forged Instrument and sentenced to 364 days in jail.

At trial, Deputy District Attorney Travis Lucia argued Lambdin established the computing equipment in order to commit identity theft, and produce fraudulent checks and credit cards. He also argued that the jury should hold her accountable for her actions at Meadowood Mall and show her that she was not able to get something for nothing.