FRAZER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A 20-year-old man is facing several charges after he was operating a counterfeit money and drug scheme in Frazer Township, police said.
According to police, the man and a teen boy were printing fake $20 bills and using them to buy drugs and then resell the drugs.
“Besides counterfeiting, we have forgery. We have theft, felony drug possession with intent to deliver,” said Frazer Township Police Chief Terry Kuhns.
Investigators told Channel 11 News that they became suspicious when a few of the counterfeit bills began showing up at stores near Pittsburgh Mills Mall.
Police were concerned that when the drug dealers found out they were being ripped off, the situation could have turned very violent.
“First time I've encountered that in my career where the counterfeiter would past the counterfeit money to drug dealers, which is inherently dangerous,” said Kuhns.
Authorities said when the 20-year-old suspect and another juvenile were arrested, the 20-year-old had some of the fake money, some marijuana, some Molly and some scales and packaging materials.
According to the Frazer Township Police Chief, the suspect admitted to printing a few thousand dollars’ worth of fake bills.
Police said they believe the operation was a fairly sizeable one, and they’re still searching for more suspects – all of whom are in their late teens and early 20s.