Man arrested in Idaho over alleged $40,000 diversion from Reno youth nonprofit
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) - A man accused of diverting $40,000 intended for a Reno youth basketball nonprofit has been arrested in Idaho.
Jared Winslow Deveraux, 51, was booked into the Bannock County Jail on Aug. 14 on charges listed as fugitive from justice and warrant arrest, according to Bannock County booking records.
Deveraux is accused in Nevada of taking money intended to pay for a new basketball court for the Reno Tropics youth basketball organization.
According to reporting from Reno's News 4 and Fox 11, the nonprofit paid $40,000 toward a $65,000 basketball court project. The work was never completed, and investigators allege the money was diverted to an account connected to Deveraux.
According to a Pocatello Police Department affidavit obtained by Local News 8, officers responded Aug. 14 to the Idaho Probation and Parole office at 1246 Yellowstone Avenue in Pocatello.
The affidavit says Deveraux was located at the office and was taken into custody after officers confirmed an extraditable warrant out of Reno, Nevada.
Officers then transported him to the Bannock County Jail.
Bannock County booking records show Deveraux was booked at approximately 9:06 a.m. Aug. 14 and remains in custody.
The Idaho Department of Correction currently lists Deveraux's physical location as the Bannock County Jail. IDOC records also show he is on parole for previous convictions involving grand theft, embezzlement, extortion or receiving stolen goods. He was released to supervision in October 2021.
$40,000 basketball court project never completed
The allegations against Deveraux center on a project for Reno Tropics, a youth basketball nonprofit.
The organization was attempting to upgrade its basketball facility and hired Professional Floor Systems for the project.
According to reporting by Kim Burrows of Reno's News 4 and Fox 11, the nonprofit wired $40,000 toward the project. Upon the grand opening, however, the court was never installed.
The organization later learned the payment had allegedly been diverted to an account connected to Deveraux.
Professional Floor Systems has said Deveraux was terminated after the allegations came to light and that the company is cooperating with investigators.
Reno Tropics has sought community support to recover the losses and restart the project.
Local News 8 also attempted to give Deveraux an opportunity to respond to the allegations earlier this year in May.
Local News 8 has not received an additional response from Deveraux regarding the allegations.
Deveraux also has a criminal history involving theft and embezzlement.
Previous criminal convictions
Idaho Department of Corrections records show active parole sentences stemming from previous grand-theft convictions involving embezzlement and related offenses. One sentence is listed as satisfying in 2030, while another extends to 2036.
According to records, Deveraux was sentenced in 2017 to between five and 20 years in prison after being convicted in connection with a scheme involving nearly $400,000 taken from roofing companies.
The current allegations involving Reno Tropics are separate from those previous convictions.
Deveraux has not been convicted in the Reno case and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
He remains in Bannock County custody while the case moves forward in Idaho and Nevada.
