ID Theft Sentencing

WCDO Secures Lengthy Prison Terms in Identity Theft Case

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has announced that an identity theft prosecution has resulted in two defendants being sentenced to lengthy prison terms by District Court Judge Connie Steinheimer. Both defendants had previously pled guilty to one count of Obtaining and Use of Personal Identity Information of Another and one count of Trafficking of a Controlled Substance. Jerry Allen Tomasi 32 (4/22/87) from Stockton, California was sentenced in August to 26 years in prison, with parole eligibility after 5 years and 3 months has been served. Sergio Herrera 30 (11/10/88) from Woodbridge, California was sentenced yesterday to the same 26 years term.

Case Details:

The Reno Police Department investigated the case against Tomasi and Herrera after receiving a report of multiple acts of fraudulent activity related to the credit and personal identity of a Reno woman. Detectives with the RPD Financial Crimes Unit determined that Herrera and Tomasi came to Reno from California in early 2019. Between March 17, 2019, and April 2, 2019, the defendants obtained the personal information (social security number, address, credit card information, and phone number) of the victim and began using it at several local stores. Altogether the defendants obtained or attempted to obtain thousands of dollars of merchandise from Old Navy, Gap, Best Buy, JC Penny, Lowe’s Home Improvement Store, and Victoria Secret. They also attempted to add themselves to the victim’s store credit accounts. When located, the defendants were in possession of multiple credit cards belonging to additional victims; papers with handwritten social security numbers, birth dates, and other personal information, as well as over 5 grams of bulk methamphetamine.

At sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Barack Potter argued that both defendants had a criminal history of similar theft and identity theft related crimes, were on probation in California at the time the Washoe County crimes occurred, specifically targeted a member of this community, and had never been previously sentenced to anything other than probation for their prior offenses.