Women plead guilty in package theft case

Two women pleaded guilty Monday to fraudulent use of a debit card in connection with the theft of packages off porches in Carson Valley and Reno just before Christmas.

Roommates Evelyn Aceves, 34, and Alisha Ezell, 40, face up to four years in prison and fines at their sentencing Aug. 10. They also are eligible for probation.

The women were arrested after they tried to use gift cards in Walmart in December that were reported stolen by a Reno woman.

Ezell said she bought the two $100 gift cards from a woman she identified as "Michelle."

Ezell said she was told the cards were given to Michelle by her grandmother, but she should have known they were stolen.

Lawyer Kris Brown said Aceves was entering an Alford plea to avoid prosecution on greater charges.

The women were identified after Douglas County Sheriff's Investigator Greg Rooney watched store video surveillance showing the women using stolen gift cards at Walmart.

Rooney was investigating the thefts of packages off front porches shortly after delivery by UPS and Federal Express in December and January.

A half-dozen thefts occurred in Douglas County and others were reported in Carson City and Reno.

A Reno victim sent Rooney a video of one of the suspects removing a package from her front porch.

During an interview with the women, Rooney reportedly received a full confession from both of them detailing their involvement in several of the thefts.

Items taken in Douglas included a vehicle ladder rack, a child's pedal car, holiday gift cards, clothes, toys, books, and a Christmas wreath. The value of the items stolen is estimated at about $2,500.

According to reports, the women said they took the items because they were short money for Christmas gifts.

Aceves also reportedly took dog and cat food from a porch in Johnson Lane.

Prosecutor Erik Levin said the women would be expected to make restitution for the stolen debit cards, but were not charged in the thefts of the other items in the plea agreement and wouldn't be making restitution.

According to Rooney, none of the stolen items was recovered.