NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 31, 2008
Contact: Michele Nicholson
Public Information Officer
(850) 651-7420
COUNTERFEIT CURRENCY CRACKDOWN
The Okaloosa
County Sheriff's Office and Fort Walton Beach Police Department have arrested
more than a dozen people to date in connection with an investigation into the
distribution of counterfeit currency in south Okaloosa County.
The charges range from uttering
counterfeit U.S. currency to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute the fake
money.
Several
search warrants have been conducted since the investigation began in mid-to-late
summer. One of the searches led to the discovery of four firearms, including an
AK-47 assault rifle. Three of the weapons had been reported as stolen. The
search of the residence also turned up more than 100 grams of cocaine and a case
of ammunition for the AK-47. That particular search led to the
arrests of 17-year old Aubrey Joseph and 39-year old Pamela Stoudmire of
Fort Walton Beach on September 30th, 2008.
Others
arrested so far in connection with the investigation are:
* 33-year old Raymond
Forrest Lawson, 611 Manor Ct., F.W.B.
* 39-year old Julie Renee
Gomez, 832 Oakridge St., F.W.B.
* 23-year old Laderius
Jermaine Jackson ,102 Burned Out Bridge Rd., Baker
* 22-year old John Harry
Larimer, 121 Berger Pl., F.W.B.
* 17-year old Kyndric
Dallas Wilson, 479 Sara Ave., Mary Esther
* 22-year old Shera
Cherelle Morris, 54 9th Ave., Shalimar
* 31-year old Tajuana
Latrice Feagin, 538 Parkview Lane, F.W.B.
* 23-year old James
Saltaformaggio, of Boutte, Louisiana
* 22-year old Kennon
Lottinger, of Luling,
Louisiana
* 33-year old Dennis
Ronaldo Hunter of 223 Highway Ave, F.W.B.
* 22-year old Larence
Daniel Bloxson, 125 Second Ave., F.W.B.
Additional
warrants are pending. Because this an active, ongoing investigation, no other
details will be released at this time.
TIPS FOR DETECTING COUNTERFEIT MONEY
The best way to
detect a counterfeit is to know your currency.
Here are
some of the simplest detection methods:
1. Feel the paper. That's
usually the first giveaway. A counterfeit will often be "floppier" than the real
thing or just feel strange.
2. Hold the note up to the
light. Most banks carry a watermark and thread. A thread always appears as a
solid line when viewed and good watermark detail should be seen.
3. The print quality on a
genuine note will be crisp and defined.
4. With a magnifying glass
you should be able to read any microtext messages.
5. The color on a genuine
note will be clear and well defined and the metallic ink area will have a sheen.
6. Depending on how much
you handle money, you can purchase a counterfeit detector to mark a suspect
bill. The marks from these pens
should show up clear if the bill is real, dark if it's counterfeit. Many
retailers use these pens.