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Last updated on Monday, July 31, 2017
(UNDATED) - Two Washington County men are facing charges of counterfeiting, fraud and theft after police seized fake bills and equipment to make the fake bills in a Clarksville motel.
Police arrested 34-year-old Jesse L. Harrod of Salem and 27-year-old Jeffrey A. Petty of Campbellsburg after the owner of America's Best Inn & Suites said they paid for their room with counterfeit cash.
Photo: Arrested in relation to counterfeiting are from left, Jeff Petty, of Campbellsburg; Jesse L. Harrod, of Salem; Amanda Goss, of Borden; Jennifer Ulrich and William Motsinger, both of Salem.
When police arrived to investigate, they found the men with other counterfeit bills and equipment to produce more.
The owner of the motel, Tony Yaldo, alerted police when he discovered seven counterfeit $10 bills, when he was counting down the drawer around 11 p.m. on Sunday, July 23.
After reviewing the security camera footage, he determined that Harrod had paid for the $62.15 room around 8:45 p.m and was given $7.85 in change by the desk clerk on duty and then alerted police.
Once in the room, one officer spotted two counterfeit bills on a table, which prompted a request to search the room.
During the search, officers discovered more counterfeit bills on Harrod and in the room, bringing the known total to $190. They also found and confiscated a printer, scanner, digital camera, memory cards and cell phones. Among the bills found and used at the motel were five $20-dollar bills and nine $10-dollar bills.
According to the report, Harrod told police he had used the equipment to scan and print counterfeit cash from real bills and that Petty had also printed cash and the two then went to Walmart to get paper to print more bills. Petty told police he'd let Harrod use some of his money to make copies, as payment for a ride.
The two men could face charges of counterfeiting, fraud and theft under $750.
Clarksville Police Chief Mark Palmer has contacted the secret service about pursuing federal action against the men.
According to Washington County Sheriff Roger Newlon, during the week of July 17 through July 22 officers took reports of counterfeit currency being passed in the Salem and Pekin areas of Washington County.
On Sunday July 23, officers identified a female, Amanda Goss, of Borden as being one of the suspects while serving an unrelated arrest warrant. After interviewing Amanda she was charged with counterfeiting.
On Monday afternoon, July 24, officers located William Motsinger and Jennifer Ulrich, both of Salem. Washington County Sheriff Police recovered $420 in counterfeit money.
Bills were found at the following locations:
Deputy Sheriff Brent Miller says the Sunoco and Old National bills were manufactured differently from the other money recovered.
Anyone with bills matching those connected to this case are asked to contact the Clarksville Police Department at (812) 288-7151.
REAL CASH
COUNTERFEIT CASH
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