Watch CBS News

3 Charged Over Faux $100 Bills

HASTINGS, Minn. (WCCO) -- Three people have been charged with using phony $100 bills in at least seven different stores around the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota.

According to criminal complaints filed in Dakota County, 32-year-old Eric Michael Dorman, of Fairmont, and 32-year-old Dustin Dean Zamora and 28-year-old Meranda Lynn O'Connor, both of Albert Lea, have all been charged with one felony count of uttering or possessing counterfeit currency.

Police have collected surveillance and eyewitness reports that would indicate successful attempts to use faked $100 bills at seven stores. In some cases, they would use the bills to buy small purchases and collect significant amounts in change.

The stores the three are believed to have hit are in Albert Lea, Austin, Mankato, Bloomington and Burnsville.

The three were apprehended at a store. Police found a number of counterfeit $100 bills still on their person, as well as receipts indicating they had made transactions and paid precisely $100 in cash.

Rochester Police had been investigating the possibility that a man had been passing washed $5 bills that had been converted to $100 bills.

If convicted, the three face up to 5 years in jail and fines of up to $10,000 ... in real money.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.