Three North Carolina men were arrested on multiple charges Monday in Lyon County in relation to a substantial amount of counterfeit money use at a local business.
According to a news release, deputies with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department responded to reports of fake money being used at a Kuttawa business around 3 p.m. They reportedly made contact with a vehicle that matched the description of a suspect’s vehicle in a restaurant parking lot. Two male suspects were detained initially for possessing marijuana and appearing under the influence of drugs.
A third male suspect was located in a nearby business attempting to use a fake $100 bill, which he allegedly destroyed upon seeing officers arrive. Twenty-six year old Eugene Boateng, 23-year old Leernest Wells and 22-year old Jaquan Jamison, all of Charlotte, North Carolina, were charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Boateng was additionally charged with criminal littering and Wells was also charged with tampering with physical evidence.
Another suspected counterfeit bill was located and seized at a nearby restaurant where one suspect had recently purchased food. Attempts by two of the suspects to use counterfeit bills at a nearby motel and gas station were unsuccessful.
Sheriff’s Office personnel located additional marijuana, numerous items of drug paraphernalia, cash believed to be proceeds from the counterfeit money’s use, and an additional counterfeit $100 bill from the suspects.