8th arrest in Pahrump ID theft, check fraud probe

The Nye County Sheriff’s office has arrested an 8th person in in what it calls an identity theft and check fraud ring in Pahrump, the department announced Friday.

The sheriff’s office arrested 26-year-old Malinda Carson, of Pahrump, after she used a stolen debit card at several businesses there, according to a press release.

Carson initially fled to Las Vegas but was found and arrested Wednesday in Pahrump, the release said. She got the stolen cards from Diane Lee Lake, investigators said.

Lake, who was arrested March 7, is at the center of the identity theft and check fraud scheme that has affected more than 200 Pahrump and Clark County individuals and businesses, the sheriff’s office said.

Carson is being held at the Nye County Detention Center on $5,000 bail.

Anyone with more information can contact the Nye County Sheriff’s Office at 775-751-7000 or ncso_detectives@co.nye.nv.us, with attention to Det. Mike Eisenloffel.

Contact Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @lauxkimber