On the day of America's independence, two men were arrested by Merced police for allegedly creating faux Benjamins, Grants, Jacksons, Hamiltons, and even Lincolns.
The two men -- Kim Strauss, 44, and Kimmy Campodonica, 37 -- were found by police in Room 224 of Motel Six, 1410 V Street, just before noon Saturday.
Fake bills were strewn about the room, said Sgt. Rodney Court, one of the responding officers.
Inside the room, the men had set up a mini Federal Reserve, complete with a press, printer and chemicals.
"Some (of the bills) were completely done, some were partially finished," Court said. On the bathroom vanity, there were wet bills lying on the counter after having been treated to achieve a "weathered look," he said.
The equivalent of about $2,000 was found in the room. Court said officers couldn't be sure, but did not think the men had tried to spend the money.
Had they tried, Court didn't think they would be successful.
"Some of the tens, they looked really good. But upon touch, you wouldn't have to be an expert to figure out it was fake," he said of the printer paper phonies.
The two men were arrested and booked into the Merced County Jail on suspicion of production and possession of counterfeit bills. Campodonica posted bail Saturday, while Strauss remains behind bars with a $22,200 bail.
-- Danielle Gaines
E-Mail
Print
