On June 1, 2018, officials from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) intervened in an attempt by a California resident to acquire a fraudulent identification card at the Reno DMV office. The suspect, identified as Joseph Eugene Davis, 71, from Santa Clara County, California, was apprehended following his presentation of a social security card and birth certificate under another person’s name.
The incident unfolded when a DMV technician noticed discrepancies in the documents provided by Davis. The mismatch was verified through the department’s established verification process. Consequently, the technician alerted the DMV’s Compliance Enforcement Officers who took immediate action.
Following his arrest on charges related to document forgery and identity fraud, investigators confirmed Davis’s true identity with assistance from enforcement officials in California. It was revealed that Davis was out on bond awaiting trial for multiple counts of lewd acts against a minor in Santa Clara County. His bail conditions prohibited him from leaving the county.
Davis has been booked into Washoe County Jail and will await extradition back to California where he faces potential bond revocation and additional charges.
“The true value of what we do is often overlooked in our day-to-day operations, but identity verification is a key part of our role in the State,” said DMV Director Terri Albertson. “Thanks to the swift action of our employees, this individual will now have to face prosecution for his alleged crimes. I am extremely proud of the work of our staff and thank them for their diligence in this case.”
