Cops bust flea market vendors selling fake jerseys
February 11, 2010
Sports and fashion news from The Columbus (OH) Dispatch…
MONROE, Ohio – Police have blitzed flea market vendors accused of selling counterfeit pro football jerseys in southwest Ohio.
An investigator for the NFL helped Monroe police in a raid Sunday that police said resulted in seizure of more than 2,100 bogus jerseys. They were being sold at four booths at Traders World, just off Interstate 75.
Police said they will seek felony trademark counterfeiting charges against the vendors involved.
Man pays for private dance with funny money
October 27, 2009
This comes from the Wyoming Tribune Eagle…
CHEYENNE – A local man has been charged in federal court with counterfeiting money, allegedly to pay an exotic dancer for a private session at a motel.
Rickey A. Kempter, 50, of Cheyenne faces up to 20 years in prison on charges of making and possessing counterfeit U.S, currency.
A judge is scheduled Wednesday to determine if there is enough evidence to send Kempter to trial on the charges.
According to federal court documents, Kempter met two dancers Oct. 6 at the Green Door Lounge on East Lincolnway, one of whom he called later to arrange a private dance at the Lariat Motel on Central Avenue.
The dancers told Cheyenne police that they took a taxi to Kempter’s residence, where they picked him up and drove around town for about 30 minutes, court documents show.
The taxi driver told investigators that they dropped off one of the dancers and proceeded to the motel, where Kempter asked him to hold a roll of $50 bills.
“(The driver) noticed that the money was ‘funny looking’ and that several of the $50 Federal Reserve notes were not cut evenly,” court documents show. “(The driver) further noticed that several of the $50 Federal Reserve notes had the same serial numbers.”
The driver then called his boss, who notified police.
Investigators said they questioned Kempter, who said he wanted to “front like the money was there” to pay $800 for a private dance. He admitted to making the bills on a printer at his home, court documents show.
According to the documents, Kempter told investigators he planned to go home and pay with real money, but none was found at his residence.
Eventually, Cheyenne police contacted the U.S. Secret Service.
The criminal complaint alleges Kempter made and possessed $1,200 worth of counterfeit $50 bills.
Kempter’s attorney, Mark E. Macy, declined to comment, saying he has not had much time to speak with his client.
Talk about inflation
June 22, 2009
This comes from the AP and the Longview (TX) News-Journal…
AMARILLO, Texas — Some fake $100 bills being passed in Amarillo started as real money.
Amarillo police are looking for suspects in the passing of the altered $5 bills.
Police say various merchants recently have been duped with about $4,000 worth of the fake $100 bills, including an incident Tuesday night.
Police say some of the altered currency still had faint Abraham Lincoln markings, like real $5 bills.
Investigators believe the $5 bills are being washed until the ink fades, then the bills are reprinted with $100 designations.
