Erath County grand jury indicts group accused of engaging in fraudulent check-cashing scheme.

By SARA VANDEN BERGE

An Erath County grand jury on Thursday indicted six individuals from Houston accused of traveling to Dublin to engage in a check-cashing scheme.

Those indicted include Juan Jose Zuniga-Ornelas for forgery and engaging in organized criminal activity; Miguel Angel Romero for fraudulent use or possession of identifying information; Francisco Guzman-Ramos for fraudulent use or possession of identifying information; Daneri Gormendia-Rodriguez for fraudulent use or possession of identifying information; Edgar Mauricio Romero Berrios for fraudulent use or possession of identifying information and Diego Palacios-Barrientos for fraudulent use or possession of identifying information.

The following is a narrative from the Dublin Police Department outlining what transpired on the afternoon the group was arrested:

On Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at approximately 1:08 p.m., the Dublin Police Department received a report of a subject urinating in the parking lot of Central Inn.

Upon arrival, officers were directed by witnesses to multiple Hispanic individuals located in the Dublin Stop parking lot, across the street from Central Inn.

Officers were also advised that a black Dodge pickup was involved and had been seen leaving the Dairy Queen parking lot traveling northbound.

Officers were aware, based on prior investigations, that this same area has been repeatedly used by unknown individuals involved in organized fraudulent check-cashing schemes, where persons are dropped off to cash fraudulent checks.

Detective Wilson made contact with the subjects in the area of the Dublin Stop, while Chief Cameron Ray and Sgt. Bonilla attempted to locate the suspect truck.

Detective Wilson identified the two subjects as Walter Antonio Sanchez and Juan Jose Zuniga Ornelas.

While being lawfully detained for further investigation and seated in Detective Wilson's patrol vehicle, Juan Jose Zuniga Ornelas dropped a portion of a payroll check issued on the account of Horizon Dairy.

This discovery led officers to believe that a fraudulent check scheme was actively occurring.

While attempting to locate the suspect vehicle, Sgt. Bonilla and Chief Ray observed two Hispanic males near the Sonic Drive-In.

Officers attempted to detain the subject by activating emergency lights and issuing verbal commands to stop.

Both subjects fled on foot and Sgt. Bonilla initiated a foot pursuit, while loudly announcing "Police."

These subjects were later identified as Francisco Antonio Guzman, Ramos and Miguel Romero.

At the same time the foot pursuit began, the black Dodge pickup truck exited the Sonic area at a high rate of speed.

Chief Ray conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle near the north city limits of Dublin.

The occupants of the vehicle were identified as Edgar Mauricio Romero Berrios (driver), Diego Antonio Barrientos and Daneri Garmendia Rodriguez.

All occupants denied knowledge of illegal activity.

None were able to provide valid Texas identification or any other United States-issued identification.

After speaking with Detective Wilson and based on the totality of the circumstances, officers believed that all involved parties were acting together as part of the same criminal enterprise.

All vehicle occupants were detained and transported to the Dublin Police Department for further investigation.

Further investigation revealed that Edgar Mauricio Romero Berrios did not possess a valid Texas Driver's License.

During a search of the vehicle, officers located multiple fraudulent identification documents and fraudulent checks issued on the account of Horizon Dairy.

While the vehicle investigation was ongoing, officers continued searching for the subjects who fled on foot.

Sheriff Matt Coates, Chief Deputy Tye Box, Chief Ray and Constable Schipper later located Miguel Romero on County Road 250 north of Dublin, fleeing in a field and took him into custody.

Miguel Romero was identified as one of the individuals who fled the Sonic area during the attempted detention.

Constable Schipper also located Francisco Antonio Guzman Ramos on FM 847 and took him into custody.

Francisco Antonio Guzman Ramos was found in possession of a Horizon Dairy check stub and U.S. currency consistent with recently cashed checks.

He stated that he had met an unknown male in Houston, who sent him to Dublin under the pretense of construction work.

He admitted he was provided a check, cashed it in Dublin and retained the proceeds.

Detective Wilson contacted representatives of Horizon Dairy and confirmed that the checks recovered from multiple subjects were fraudulent, had not been authorized, and were not issued to any of the involved individuals.

Based on the investigation, officers determined that all involved parties traveled to Dublin from the Houston area to engage in organized criminal activity and forgery.