DMV investigators halt attempted fraud, leads to extradition

California man arrested was awaiting trial on lewdness charges

RENO– On Friday, June 1, 2018, Nevada Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) officials stopped an effort by a California man to obtain a fraudulent identification card at the DMV location in Reno, where the man was subsequently arrested. The individual, Joseph Eugene Davis, 71, of Santa Clara County, California, entered the Reno DMV with both a social security card and California birth certificate in the name of another person. While at the service desk, the technician working with the individual recognized an issue with the documents and confirmed the mismatch through the DMV’s verification process. The technician immediately alerted the DMV’s Compliance Enforcement Officers.

After confirmation, investigators arrested Mr. Davis on multiple charges relating to passing fake documents and attempting to obtain an ID under a false name. Once detained, DMV investigators, through collaboration with enforcement officials in California, were able to confirm the true identity of the individual. Mr. Davis was identified as on bond release from Santa Clara County, awaiting trial for multiple counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a minor, after sexually assaulting a young female victim. As part of his bail order, Mr. Davis is not allowed to leave Santa Clara County, California.

Nevada DMV investigators booked Davis into the Washoe County Jail where he will await extradition back to California to face revocation of his bond and other 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.”

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Joseph Eugene Davis
Photo: Washoe County Sheriff's Office