According to Barstow police reports, police began to receive reports of suspected counterfeit money from several stores at the outlet mall shortly before 4 p.m., and were able to detain four people identified by store employees. Police arrested Kevin Fong, 35, of La Mesa, Timothy Best, 30, of Henderson, Nev, Rick Offley, 40, of Poway, and Lisa Offley, 26, of Poway.
As the investigation continued, other store employees contacted officers present at the mall with reports of counterfeit money.
The $100 bills were counterfeits of exceptional quality. Barstow Police Sgt. Mike Hunter said that store employees didn’t get clear results after using counterfeit-detecting markers, and officers eventually went to a local bank, where it was determined that the bills were counterfeit.
Upon a search of a vehicle used by the suspects, officers found additional suspected counterfeit currency as well as goods purchased with the money. Officers believe that the four people charged were purchasing inexpensive items with the counterfeit bills in order to receive legitimate currency as change.
Hunter said that the suspects on their way from the San Diego area to Las Vegas when they were arrested, and that no other area businesses outside the outlet mall have made reports of counterfeit currency.
Fong, Best, and Rick and Lisa Poway were charged with counterfeiting, burglary, and conspiracy, and booked into the Barstow jail, where they remain in lieu of $25,000 bail.
The case is still under investigation by both the Barstow Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service. Anyone with information on the case is urged to call Barstow Police at 255-5111. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call the WE-TIP Hotline at 1-800-782-7463 or visit www.wetip.com.
SOURCE: Desert Dispatch
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