Carson City sheriff's arrest log: Pair jailed after fake credit card laboratory found inside car

A California man and woman were arrested Friday on suspicion of credit card fraud after an elaborate computer forgery lab was discovered inside a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

Arrested were Tony Mark Russo, 46, of Antioch, Calif., and Molly Idel Martin, 26, of Tracy, Calif. Russo faces nine felony charges: Possession of a financial forgery lab, using scanning device to defraud, possession of a of scanning device, obtaining and possession of credit cards without consent, forgery of credit card, identity theft, fraud of credit and debit cards, possession of false identification and possession of methamphetamine. He also faces misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, being a non-resident with a suspended driver’s license, no proof of vehicle insurance and disregarding emergency vehicle lights.

Martin faces a felony charge of possession of a financial forgery lab and conspiracy to commit credit card fraud with a debit card, a gross misdemeanor.

According to the arrest report, Russo, the driver of a BMW, was stopped Friday at around 10:40 p.m. in the area of Highway 50 and Mercury Way after failing to stop for an officer using his emergency vehicle lights.

Russo told the officer he did not have his identification, vehicle insurance or registration in the vehicle, saying he had recently purchased it for $3,000. The front passenger, Martin, provided California identification.

An officer ran a records check on both and learned Russo’s driver license was suspended and he was a sex offender registered in California and Nevada. During the investigation, deputies observed a large amount of items that appeared to be from recent store purchases in the back seat of the BMW. The items were were in store bags and appeared to still have tags attached to them.

Russo gave an officer consent to remove and look through his wallet, in which a California driver’s license was found, the arrest report states. A deputy with a K9 arrived on the scene, and a positive alert was made on the vehicle, where a glass pipe with methamphetamine was later found.

During a search officers located a wallet with a California license that contained Russo’s photo with another name on it as well as credit cards in the name of a man, which it was later learned, had reported identity theft to the Livermore Police Department in Livermore, Calif. Russo, who was read his Miranda rights and agreed to speak, He claimed the license was a novelty item he bought in California.

Also found in the vehicle, a computer that was powered on and attached to a credit card swipe machine that was also turned on and located in the back seat of the vehicle. The computer and credit card swipe machine were connected to a power outlet inside the car. Also in the vehicle was blank credit card stock with magnetic strips. During the investigation it was learned that the computer was logged into a website with recently scanned cards listed on the screen, the arrest report states.

Deputies read the woman her Miranda rights, where she stated she understood and agreed to speak. She told officers that Russo was making fictitious credit cards in his vehicle using his computer and the card swipe scanning machine device connected to his computer. She said they recently made cards to go shopping. She said they were both staying in Douglas County and said she did not know how he obtained the California identification.

Martin gave consent to search her phone, where officers discovered a California identification with her photo with the name of another person and a birthdate of Dec. 24, 1967. There were also photos of checks with bank routing numbers and accounts on her cell phone, the arrest report states.

She was taken to the sheriff’s office where she was read her rights again and agreed to talk about the case. She told officer that Russo is known to use his computer and credit card scanner in his vehicle to make fake credit cards where they would use them and make purchases, the arrest report states.

Russo was released after posting $40,000 bail. Martin remains in jail on $100,000 bail.

In other arrests:
— A 22-year-old Carson City man, David Antonio Martin, was arrested Saturday, 6:22 a.m. in the 1500 block of Rand Avenue on felony suspicion of domestic battery.

According to the arrest report the suspect had been in a fight inside a residence with another man, who was on the floor with the man on top of him. The suspect allegedly grabbed a sharp object from the kitchen counter and stabbed the other man. the suspect said he wasn’t trying to stab him, but only trying to get him off of him, the arrest report states. A warrant for the man who had been stabbed was forthcoming by a sheriff’s deputy, according to the arrest report. Bail: $15,000.

— A 22-year-old Carson City man, Julian Quincyzamone Lewis, was arrested Saturday, 11:36 p.m. in the area of East Long and Saliman streets on suspicion of felony probation violation. He was stopped without headlights. A check through dispatch showed he had a curfew and was in violation of the curfew. He’s being held without bail in lieu of a hearing.

— A 39-year-old Reno woman, Kelly Lee Wilson, was arrested Sunday, 12:38 a.m. in the area of Stewart and Spear streets on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, a felony and misdemeanor possession of a marijuana and methamphetamine pipe. Bail: $5,500.

— A 51-year-old Carson City man, Jess Alden Fields, was arrested Friday, 9:06 p.m. in the 2900 block of Highway 50 East on a felony warrant alleging domestic battery with strangulation. The warrant was issued May 3, 2016 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $50,000.

— A 54-year-old Reno man, Daniel Montoya, was booked into Carson City Jail Friday on a felony fugitive from justice warrant with a charge of assault with a deadly weapon, issued the same day out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $250,000.

In misdemeanor related arrests:
— A 28-year-old Carson City man was arrested Sunday, 4:13 a.m. in the 200 block of East Long Street on a misdemeanor charge violation of a suspended sentence. He was on alternative sentencing with a clause not to consume alcohol. He blew a .191. Bail: $1,000.

— A 20-year-old Carson City man was arrested Saturday in the 400 block of Hot Springs Road on a misdemeanor warrant, violation of pre-trial supervision, issued out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $3,000.

— A 50-year-old Carson City man was arrested Saturday, 9:27 a.m. in the 1000 block of West Sunset on a DUI failure to appear warrant. Bail: $5,000.

— A 19-year-old Carson City man was arrested Saturday, 1:18 p.m. in the 1400 block of Medical Parkway on a misdemeanor contempt of court warrant. Bail: $500.

— A 29-year-old Carson City man was arrested Saturday, 10:43 a.m. in the 3700 block of North Carson Street on misdemeanor suspicion, violation of a temporary protection order. Bail: $1,000.

— A 32-year-old Carson City man was arrested Saturday, 10:05 a.m. in the 1000 block of Spartan Avenue on misdemeanor suspicion of trespassing. Bail: $242.

— A 33-year-old Gardnerville woman was booked into jail Saturday, 12:15 a.m. on a misdemeanor failure to appear warrant. Bail: $500.

— An 18-year-old Carson City man was arrested Friday, 5:57 p.m. in the 1300 block of Ladera on misdemeanor suspicion of speeding, driving without a valid license, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. Bail: $2,068.

All information for the crime log (unless otherwise noted) comes from the arrest reports supplied by the Carson City Sheriff's Office, and is considered by law to be public information. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The policy of Carson Now is to name anyone who is arrested for a felony offense.