Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Two Trenton residents were charged last week with using counterfeit bills at various local establishments after a presumed accomplice attempted to purchase cigarettes at a local grocery store.
On September 25 at approximately 8:02 p.m., Middletown Township police responded to a call by a loss prevention officer at Redner’s Warehouse Market at 1641 East Lincoln Highway.
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According to the Redner’s employee, a transaction was observed in which a man attempted to pass a counterfeit $100 bill as payment for a pack of cigarettes.
Although police were called and the man was asked to stay at the store until police arrived, the man left the store and headed towards a green Ford Explorer, according to court documents.
The employee observed the man then walk away from the vehicle when he was noticed, as noted in the employee’s account.
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According to the affidavit of probable cause, police then conducted surveillance of the vehicle and discovered both 20-year-old Izera Mona Melton and 18-year-old Jacqueline Fair, both from Trenton, N.J., near the vehicle.
Cops say during the course of the investigation, Fair was found to be in possession of two counterfeit $100 bills, consistent with the one used in the attempted Redner’s transaction.
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According to police, further investigation revealed that Melton, Fair and two unidentified black males had passed counterfeit $100 bills twice at Lowe’s, once at Pets Supplies Plus, and had attempted once at Sally’s Beauty Supply.
Court documents state that seven additional counterfeit $20 bills still on the paper were found inside the vehicle.
Melton and Fair were both charged with two felonies including that of forgery and conspiracy, and one misdemeanor charge including theft by deception. Their arraignments were held before Judge John J. Kelly Jr., where they were sent to Bucks County Jail on 10 percent of $50,000.
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Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
