Three out-of-state residents were arrested in Waterford after trying to buy hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise with counterfeit cash at Wal-Mart, according to police.
Police said Lamichael Black, 29, of Brooklyn, New York; Jamyira Bonner, 23, of Brooklyn, New York; and Maurice Perry, 27, of Florence, South Carolina, were found with $15,300 in fake $100 bills and altered credit and gift cards.
The three were arrested Sunday evening at the Wal-Mart store on Waterford Parkway North in Waterford.
According to police, Bonner used five fake $100 bills to purchase a $424.34 vacuum around 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Shortly thereafter, Black attempted to buy two sets of headphones totaling $425.29, but the cashier called over a manager to check the bills he handed over.
Wal-Mart employees became suspicious and called police. Perry entered the store after officers arrived but turned around and walked out when he spotted them, according to police.
Investigators searched the trio's car and belongings and found $15,300 in counterfeit cash, including more than 15 gift and credit cards with altered magnetic strips, police said.
Black was arrested and charged with first-degree forgery and sixth-degree larceny. Bonner was charged with first-degree forgery, sixth-degree larceny, illegal use of a credit card, third-degree identity theft and interfering with an officer, and Perry was charged with first-degree forgery, interfering with an officer and two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime.
Local
All three appeared in New London Superior Court on Monday. Bonner and Perry are each being held on $25,000 bond ahead of their next court dates Sept. 14, according to the state judicial system. Black is being held on $100,000 bond and is due in court Sept. 2
