GREENFIELD — A couple from Chicago allegedly tried to pass fake $100 bills at several stores around town during a shopping spree earlier this week, but thanks to alert employees, they failed.
They were carrying thousands of dollars of the fake loot, police said.
Lashonda Renee Wright, 34; and Deonta L. Robinson-Henderson, 24, both of Chicago, have been arrested and charged with a Level 6 felony count of counterfeiting. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 2½ years in prison.
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According to an affidavit filed in support of the charges, this is what happened:
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, an employee at Firehouse Subs, 22 East McClarnon Drive, acting on a tip from a nearby business, closely inspected a $100 bill that was being used to pay for sandwiches. The bill didn’t look right, and the employee told the customer it likely was counterfeit.
The customer, identified as Robinson-Henderson, told the employee to show him how the bill was fake. When the employee did so, holding it up to the light, Robinson-Henderson tried to rip the fake bill out of the employee’s hand, the affidavit said.
Police caught up to the suspects outside the restaurant as they and two other people were getting into a gray Saturn SUV with Illinois plates. The group was detained as officers spoke with restaurant employees.
The employee told police they had been tipped off by workers from the nearby AutoZone store that a group of people was in the area trying to pass the fake money, the affidavit said.
The suspects apparently targeted a cluster of businesses in and near Brandywine Plaza on North State Street.
Police also learned someone had tried to use counterfeit money at Bath and Body Works in the shopping center, and that they were able to purchase some products at the nearby GNC store. Officers later retrieved the fake money, the affidavit said.
Officers were able to see the serial number on the bill from GNC was the same as those on the bills from Firehouse Subs and Bath and Body Works, the affidavit said.
The suspects also tried to use the counterfeit bills at Specks Pet Supply and at AutoZone.
An alert employee at AutoZone began calling nearby businesses to warn them someone was in the area trying to pass fake money, the affidavit said.
Police arrested Wright and Robinson-Henderson; the other two people in the SUV were released. Deputies at the Hancock County Jail discovered thousands of dollars in fake $100 bills while booking the couple.
According to records, the two made their initial appearance Wednesday, Jan. 8, in Hancock County Superior Court 2 via a video hearing. Judge Dan Marshall set a $10,000 surety bond for each.
The two have a pretrial conference set for March 4.
