By Kelsey Givens
Three people were arrested this week in connection with the theft of an elderly man’s checks and more than $6,700 from his bank account.
Vincent Scarpati, 19, Jessica Parker, 18, and Alana Murphy, 18, were taken into custody Monday and Tuesday for allegedly stealing money from the victim’s bank account between Feb. 13 and Feb. 22.
According to a declaration of arrest in the case, Nye County Sheriff’s Det. David Boruchowitz received a report from the victim that his checks had been stolen and cashed at the Bank of America on State Route 160 in February.
After learning this, the detective made contact with the branch and was able to obtain photographs, surveillance video and paperwork from each time one of the stolen checks was cashed.
Murphy was allegedly seen cashing the first stolen check on Feb. 13 for $155.
The check was made out to cash with her name in the memo line.
She then allegedly cashed four more checks, each time making them out to herself with different notes like work or paycheck written in the memo line.
Twice when Murphy was seen cashing one of these checks, Parker was also present at the scene.
On the other three occasions another woman, Jennifer Parker, 18, was present with Murphy at the bank.
In total, from the five checks taken, they reportedly stole $1,575 from the victim.
On Feb. 16, Scarpati also began cashing stolen checks at the same bank.
He allegedly cashed four checks on four separate occasions, each time made out in his name.
Scarpati alone reportedly took $5,216 from the victim’s bank account, and altogether the four allegedly stole $6,791.
After reviewing the evidence, Boruchowitz interviewed Murphy who reportedly said Scarpati had given her the checks and asked her to cash them.
She said she had gone with him, Jessica and Jennifer to the victim’s home, and heard that they had been the ones who set up the operation to steal this man’s money.
Murphy also added that she had received bad checks for Scarpati before and had questioned their legitimacy.
During another interview, Jessica reportedly told authorities when she, Murphy and Scarpati went to the victim’s residence she had stolen one of his check books and Scarpati had forged the man’s signature.
She also said the stolen money was then used to buy pills.
Authorities then located Scarpati, who allegedly admitted to forging the victim’s signature and verified details the other suspects had given to police.
All three were arrested after speaking with authorities and transported to the Nye County Detention Center.
They are being held on charges of exploitation of an elderly or vulnerable person, grand larceny, conspiracy and multiple counts each of burglary, forgery, using identification information of another and petit larceny.
According to a press release later publicizing the arrests, the NCSO reported that Jennifer is believed to be living in another state. A warrant for her arrest will reportedly be sought out in this case.
Bail for Jessica, Murphy and Scarpati is set at $50,000, $87,500 and $112,000 respectively.
Murphy was seen in Pahrump Justice Court on Wednesday. She was already in police custody for violations related to her participation in the county’s Drug Court program. She is supposed to be released from jail on Monday, which is when she will be fitted for an ankle bracelet and placed on house arrest in the above case.
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- Vincent Scarpati
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- Jessica Parker
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- Alana Murphy
The girl in orange was arrested last week for selling pills. Now this; and they are still going to let her out of jail. Our courts are insane.
She a lowlife && now has a baby I feel so sorry for…
Doesnt say alot for the Bank does it? Arent those signatures supposed to be verified.. Or is Scarpati that good? Glad I dont use that bank!
Agree, you would think the Bank of America here would have similar safe guard in place that send up red flags when unusual activity occurs in an account. And you would definitely think the 18 year old Scarpati would have set off alarms, having raided the victims account for over five grand in just a few days. Somebody needs to rattle the bank’s manager’s cage.
As for as these low lifes….lock them up for ten years. Keep them off our streets, they are a menace to the rest of us.
Same faces different crimes same justice. NONE. We, the legal and responsible people of this community, are subject to being victimized over and over by the same criminals. We need a “3 strikes your out” law in this town.
It’s the same old story,,,give first,second,third and so on offenders a slap on the wrist,,,Suggestion Judges,”How about throwing the book at first time offenders!” I am sure if first time offenders got some hard time they would not be back a second time! Of course the revolving door keeps those in our screwed up justice system employed…An othe jobs program,,let them stay on the streets so their system keeps them happily employed,,As else where in the country todays justice system is a BIG JOKE that keeps costing the public not only money but sacrafices the publics safety
They keep committing new crimes so they can get the frequent flyer awards the courts give them.
Have these 2 girls been previoulsy Convicted of crimes?? I didnt think so, just that they are both heavy into drugs. Drug addicts need help, their addiction is the force behind these crimes. Not that they should not be punished, but they need treatment as well. Hopefully they both remain in drug court and are able to get back the lives they once had. I know they both were not BAD girls.Id think we would want them to be productive members of society with jobs. Our tax dollars pay for the up keep of prisoners. These are 2 18 year old girls for gods sake. And Mr Scarpati, He has had all his chances at becoming clean and normal. This community needs to start pulling together to get these addicts busted and in programs to get them help. Do that and your crime rate such as these, will go down, Start reporting your stuff stolen, Stop taking it. And stop patronizing the Local pawn shops, where most of the stuff they steal goes, you may be getting a bargain at the expense of your neighbors stolen goods.
Those girls were aware of what they were doing so they got what they deserved.
Honestly, it’s time to bring back hard labor for criminals. Make them work during their imprisonment instead of just sitting around and sharing ways to commit new crimes…
I May be wrong but weren’t the two twins arrested some months back for burglary or something similar. Why is it everyone arrested in this town is already out on bail awaiting trial for their previous crime? Then they get out Again!
Yes the twins were arrested for similar crimes. They are not OUT They are IN drug court, and doing very well I may add. But Positive things are not reported by the Media, Here or anywhere for that matter. If you think drug court is just out its not, go research the requirements.
Hope they get some jail time. Looks like I have seen these faces in this paper before.
Comment removed. No foul language. You are on monitor status
PVT
Well i think those ladies got what they deserved adnd it wasnt right for them to pin everything on him so messed up. So they got what they deserved!