Six individuals have been indicted on myriad charges in relation to a fraudulent check cashing scheme in Dublin.
Daneri Garmendia-Rodriguez, 19, was indicted on fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, 10 to 50 items (Second Degree felony) and engaging in organized criminal activity (First Degree felony).
Francisco Guzman-Ramos, 34, was indicted on fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, 10 to 50 items (Second Degree felony) and engaging in organized criminal activity (First Degree felony).
Edgar Mauricio Romero Berrios, 28, was indicted on fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, 10 to 50 items (Second Degree felony) and engaging in organized criminal activity (First Degree felony).
Diego Palacios-Barrientos, 24, was indicted on fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, 10 to 50 items (Second Degree felony) and engaging in organized criminal activity (First Degree felony).
Miguel Angel Romero, 34, was indicted on fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, 10 to 50 items (Second Degree felony) and engaging in organized criminal activity (First Degree felony).
Juan Jose Zuniga-Ornelas, 51, was indicted on forgery (State Jail felony) and engaging in organized criminal activity (Third Degree felony).
These indictments stem from a case on Dec. 17, 2025 when Dublin PD received a report about a subject urinating in the parking lot of Central Inn, located on North Patrick.
According to the probable cause affidavit, upon arrival, officers were directed by witnesses to multiple Hispanic individuals in the Dublin Stop parking lot across the street from Central Inn. Officers were also advised a black Dodge pickup was involved, and had been seen leaving Dairy Queen, going northbound.
“Officers were aware, based on prior investigations, that this same area has been repeatedly used by unknown individuals involved in organized fraudulent checkcashing schemes, where persons are dropped off to cash fraudulent checks and laterpickeduporabandoned,” the affidavit states.
Dublin PD Detective Nanci Wilson made contact with two subjects in the area of Dublin Stop, while Police Chief Cameron Ray and Sergeant Kristi Bonilla attempted to locate the suspect pickup truck.
Det. Wilson identified the subjects as Walter Antonio Sanchez and Zuniga-Ornelas.
While being lawfully detained for further investigation, and seated in Det. Wilson’s patrol car, Zuniga-Ornelas dropped a torn portion of a payroll check issued on the account of Horizon Dairy, leading officers to believe that a fraudulent check scheme was actively occurring.
In the meantime, while searching for the suspect vehicle Chief Ray and Sgt. Bonilla observed two Hispanic males near the Sonic Drive-In. Officers attempted to detain the subjects by activating emergency lights while issuing verbal commands to stop, but both suspects fled on foot and were later identified as Guzman and Romero.
At the same time as the foot pursuit, the black Dodge pickup exited Sonic at a high rate of speed and Chief Ray conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle near the north city limits of Dublin.
The occupants of the vehicle were identified as Berrios, who was driving, and Palacios-Barrientos and Garmendia-Rodriguez.
During further interviews, a subject initially identified as Juan Jose Villalta, later stated his true name was Walter Molina Antonio Sanchez. Officers found cards with multiple identities further indicating the use of multiple false identities.
Based on the investigation, officers determined that all involved parties traveled from the Houston area to Dublin, possessed or had within reach fraudulent Horizon Dairy checks, had U.S. Currency in the amount that the checks were written for, utilized fraudulent ID and acted together to cash fraudulent checks at local businesses.
Officers determined, based on the circumstances, that the suspects intentionally collaborated in continuing course of criminal activity involving forgery, and all subjects were charged with engaging in organized criminal activity.
“This is just one of the many fraud investigations that our agency is currently handling, organized criminals often target small rural communities due to their perceived vulnerabilities,” Chief Ray said to The Dublin Citizen. “I am here to tell you that while we may be small, we may not have all the latest investigative equipment, but if you come to Dublin and commit crime, we will investigate you, we will find you and we will ensure that you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
All suspects are being held without bond on immigration detainers.