Carson City woman admits to falsifying documents to steal sister's student loan check

A Carson City woman was arrested and faces a felony fraud charge after confessing to stealing her sister's Sally Mae student loan money after the two had gotten into an argument.

Mariena Acosta, 28, was booked into Carson City Jail on Oct. 4. She told authorities that she altered documents in order for a $2,326 check meant for her sister to go into a separate bank account. After the check was deposited, she went ahead and spent the money.

According to the arrest report, officers spoke with the victim where it was determined that Acosta was supposed to facilitate a direct deposit of a Sally Mae student loan for her sister by allowing it to be deposited into her account.

The arrest report states that Acosta and her sister got into an argument and her sister moved out of the apartment they were sharing. In the meantime the two had an agreement that that money would still be deposited into the victim's account and then Acosta was to advise her sister of the deposit and provide the money to her.

Acosta instead canceled the account that the money was supposed to be deposited into, opened a different account at a different bank, accessed her sister's school account by using passwords and then finally changed the routing number for the money to be deposited into her account, the arrest report states.

The amount of money deposited and spent by Acosta, in the name of her sister, was $2,326. Officers met with Acosta at the Carson City Sheriff's Office. She was read her Miranda rights where she agreed to speak. She confessed to the scheme, saying she believed her sister owed her money and went ahead spent the money that didn't belong to her because she was hurt and upset, the arrest report states.

Acosta faces the felony charge of obtaining money under false pretenses and a misdemeanor charge of being arrested while on probation. Bail: $23,000.

In other felony-related arrests:
— A 26-year-old Carson City man was arrested Oct. 4, 11:31 p.m. in the 2100 block of Dori Way. Matthew Earl Copeland faces a felony charge of domestic battery with strangulation and gross misdemeanor false imprisonment.

According to the arrest report, officers responded to the residence after a report of domestic battery. Upon arrival officers met with the victim, who said that she and Copeland had broken up and he was upset, not allowing her to leave the residence. He blocked the door by standing in front of it and not allowing her near it.

The victim said Copeland told her she wasn't going anywhere when she tried to leave. She said she became scared and tried to push Copeland out of the way of the front door so she could leave. She said Copeland then pinched the back of her right arm, bit her cheek, began to slap and choke her four different times, and that she nearly lost consciousness due to being choked, the arrest report states.

Officers could see red marks and swelling on the woman's neck from where she was choked. The back of her right arm also showed bruising from being pinched and officers could see reddening on the face where she was slapped. Paramedics were called due to the injuries.

Officers spoke with Copeland who said he didn't want to discuss the incident. He faces the felony domestic battery with strangulation charge and gross misdemeanor false imprisonment. Bail. $17,500.

— A Carson City couple face felony drug charges and gross misdemeanor child endangerment charges after they were arrested Oct. 4, 8:19 a.m. in the 1500 block of Stanford. Eybar Uribe-Martinez, 36, and Charles Vidal Rodriguez, 36, were each being held on $5,000 bail.

According to the arrest report, officers responded to the area in reference to a report of suspicious circumstances at a vacant house. Prior to arriving dispatch advised officers that deputies were at the house the night prior and had contacted the homeowner who currently is in the Carson City Jail. The homeowner advised no one was supposed to be in the house and gave deputies permission to enter the residence.

Deputies re-contacted the homeowner and confirmed that she did give permission to enter the residence. Once inside, Martinez-Eybar and Rodriguez were located as well as a 2-year-old girl in the back bedroom. In the bathroom located inside the bedroom officers found a mirror with white powder that was later tested as methamphetamine. On a dresser in the bedroom deputies found a clear plastic baggy containing meth. On top of the bed where the couple and the child were sleeping, officers found a clear plastic baggy containing meth. Both Martinez-Eybar and Rodriguez admitted to using meth the night prior, the arrest report states.

Child Protective Services were contacted and they took custody of the child. The pair were arrested and taken to jail.

— A 44-year-old Sacramento woman was arrested Oct. 6, 3:37 p.m. at Walmart, 3200 Market Street. Andrea Jane Moreno faces a felony charge of using a false identification, gross misdemeanor obtaining money under false pretenses and possessing marijuana.

According to the arrest report, the woman was stopped by store security after she allegedly selected a scooter from the toy aisle, brought it to the customer service counter, signed a receipt with a false name and exchanged it for a gift card.

Officers spoke with Moreno who had a strong odor of marijuana coming from her. She was asked when she last smoked marijuana. The woman told officers that she smoked a "blunt" before going into the store. Officers confiscated the marijuana.

In the woman's wallet was a California driver's license that belong to someone else. When officers asked Moreno about the license, she said it wasn't hers and had given Walmart security the name of the woman on the license, the arrest report states. Bail: $22,847.

— 21-year-old Carson CIty man faces a felony drug charge after being arrested Oct. 5, 9:21 a.m. in the 900 block of Woodside Drive. Geoffrey Larson was being held on $5,500 bail.
According to the arrest report, officers responded to the residence to assist deputies regarding suspicious subjects in the area. Officers spoke with Larson and it was confirmed through dispatch that he was on Alternative Sentencing with conditions of being allowed to search for drugs and drug paraphernalia, the arrest report states.
Officers conducted a search and found a small baggy with meth.

Those arrested and facing charges are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.