A Nevada couple has been charged with attempting to enter a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) testing facility after allegedly driving past security checkpoints and into the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) in North Las Vegas. Jessica Zamora, 26, and Treyvon Currie, 31, drove approximately 300 feet into the restricted area on August 5.
A federal criminal complaint unsealed on August 26 states that the couple drove past multiple signs prohibiting entry and the possession of firearms. They were eventually stopped at a gate, where security officers found an unregistered Saturn sedan and a Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistol in a bag. Neither individual possessed a concealed carry permit.
Authorities allege the couple provided unusual responses when questioned. They initially claimed to be following another car for an unspecified reason. When asked for identification, Currie provided the names Damien Frazier and Ashley Jenkins, which did not match any employees at the facility. Following further questioning, Currie admitted to having a firearm in the vehicle.
Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered a memorial card for Damien Frazier, who had reportedly died weeks prior. Las Vegas police were called to assist, and during their investigation, it was determined that Zamora and Currie had 'notification flags' related to an ongoing investigation into a non-fatal shooting that occurred days earlier.
According to the complaint, both Zamora and Currie admitted to involvement in the shooting. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Currie firing 12 rounds at a man after an argument, with Zamora allegedly seen collecting shell casings. They stated that the Smith & Wesson recovered at the NNSS was the same firearm used in the shooting.
Zamora's attorney, Chris Rasmussen, has maintained that the incident was a misunderstanding and that the couple was simply lost. He argued that it made no sense for individuals with their backgrounds to attempt espionage or unauthorized entry into a secure facility. Rasmussen suggested that authorities were attempting to sensationalize the case by including details of the alleged shooting.
Zamora and Currie face federal charges including attempted entry by fraud on real property of the U.S. with intent to commit a felony, possession of a firearm in a federal facility, unauthorized entry of DOE property, and unauthorized introduction of a dangerous weapon to DOE property. Currie also faces state-level charges related to the shooting, including assault with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.