WCSO NEWS RELEASE
Washoe County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested Velvet Breanna Knight Beaman, 25, Monday on 27 counts of Identity Theft and Using Identifying Information of Another with Intent To Harm. Additional charges included Burglary, Possession of a Forged Instrument and Uttering a Forged Instrument.
Under Nevada Revised Statute 205.4617, personal identifying information can include a person’s name, account numbers, social security number, date of birth and numerous other items commonly used for identification purposes.
Also known as Velvet Berhard, the Reno woman acquired the personal identifying information of at least 11 identified victims within Washoe County through various means. After obtaining this information, she would fraudulently conduct financial transactions, including checking transactions and credit card transactions. Many of the identified victims were not aware of the fraud until notified by detectives from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Fraud Unit.
Detectives have identified and contacted most known victims and are working diligently with financial institutions to identify additional victims.
Beaman is currently being held in the Washoe County Detention Facility with bail set at $575,000.00. Beaman is also being held on probation violation charges by the Nevada State Parole and Probation Department.
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office would like to take this opportunity to remind citizens to stay alert. Sheriff’s Office tips that will help minimize the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft or fraud are available on the Staying Safe page of washoesheriff.com.
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office celebrated 150 years of proud service and community partnership in 2011. Sheriff Michael Haley is the 25th person elected to serve as the sheriff of Washoe County. His office continues to be the only full service public safety agency operating within northern Nevada and is responsible for operating the consolidated detention facility, regional crime lab, Northern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center, Internet Crimes against Children Task Force, court security, service of civil process, traditional street patrols and Regional Animal Services.
