Three from Carson nabbed in barcode scam

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Three Carson City residents remained in the Washoe County Jail on Tuesday for allegedly creating bogus barcodes to steal merchandise in Reno.

Howard Combs Jr., 41; Matthew Gonzi, 34; and Monique Taylor, 37, were arrested Saturday at Cabela's sporting goods store in Reno after security allegedly witnessed the trio gluing homemade barcodes onto merchandise.

According to Reno Police Lt. Robert McDonald, the three then paid about $67 for about $227 in merchandise.

"They cut off the barcode parts on the tags on store merchandise, glued on their own barcodes, and put it in at a much lower price," said McDonald.

Officers also allegedly recovered driver's licenses, credit cards and receipts from other Reno stores.

Two children that McDonald said belonged to Combs were turned over to their grandparents.

Combs, Gonzi and Taylor all have been in custody at the Carson City Jail over the years. Taylor and Gonzi, who lived together on College Parkway in September, were involved in a domestic dispute, police records indicate.

Combs, whose last address was on Airport Road, was involved in a domestic dispute in April. Both Taylor and Gonzi had drug arrests, records revealed.

Gonzi is being held on suspicion of burglary, unlawful possession of burglary tools, conspiracy to commit a crime, obtaining money under false pretenses, possession of methamphetamine, two counts of child endangerment, using ID of another and obtaining a credit card without owner's consent.

Taylor is being held on suspicion of burglary, unlawful possession of burglary tools, conspiracy to commit a crime, two counts of child endangerment, and using another's ID.

Combs is being held on suspicion of two counts of child endangerment, second-offense driving under the influence, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, burglary, conspiracy to commit a crime, driving with license revoked and using the ID of another.