An electronic theft in excess of $100,000 from a Hafen Realty bank account has led to one arrest and a search for 10 additional suspects in a nationwide ring.

The theft was reported to the Nye County Sheriff's Office in August 2007.

Subsequent investigation by Nye County detectives led to dozens of search warrants being acquired, which in turn revealed the stolen money had been transferred to three other people: Brandon Antis Grant Walker, Melanie Lynn Burkes, and Jessica Nicole Anderson.

The investigation also led detectives to Maria R. Walker, 27, who was found in Las Vegas and reportedly said she had been contacted by another individual who had told her about the money-making scheme, and she had agreed to be a part of the plan.

Walker was arrested and booked on charges of grand larceny and conspiracy to commit a crime and has since posted bail.

Further investigation revealed the money deposited in Burkes' and Anderson's accounts had then been distributed among five other suspects: Tisa Marie Brown, Shanessa Da Na Jackson, Talilia Chyna Rodgers, Sharri-Ann Ashley Vital, and Mercedes Yvon Moore.

According to the sheriff's office press release, authorities believe Rodgers may have been the plan's organizer.

Sheriff's office detectives executed a search warrant on a house Rodgers was renting in Las Vegas and discovered "large quantities of evidence relating to the Hafen Realty larceny" during the search, according to the sheriff's office.

The search also yielded evidence relating to additional victims across the country and large-scale larceny electronically executed.

Det. David Boruchowitz said the money was stolen from large business accounts over the course of three years and estimated millions of dollars were stolen nationwide.

Detectives were able to find out how part of the scam worked: Moore, a Bank of America employee at a branch in Las Vegas, allegedly provided account information to Rodgers and numerous others.

Victims reportedly range from New York to California.

Arrest warrants have been requested from the Nye County District Attorney's Office for those still at large (see article above).

Any others involved directly or indirectly are urged to contact the Nye County Sheriff's Office Detectives Division immediately to avoid being implicated in the total crime.

The sheriff's office can be reached at 775-751-7000.