Two people charged with felony forgery for allegedly passing counterfeit cash
NORWICH – The Norwich City Police Department have charged two people for exchanging counterfeit bills at local businesses.
Daniel T. Wich, 39, of South Plymouth and Tiffany Steele, 31, of Norwich, were both charged with first degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, a class C felony.
Detective Michael Purdy said the defendants recently received the counterfeit tender from a source outside of the county and police seized about $350 worth of fake $20 and $50 bills. Purdy said the defendants tried to use the money in separate incidents.
He claimed Steele first attempted to use the phony bills at a Norwich convenience store, but a clerk identified them as fake and refused to take them.
“They did a good job of recognizing the counterfeit; their mistake was handing it back to the customer,” said Norwich Police Chief Angelino. The chief urged businesses to contact police whenever they encounter suspected counterfeits.
After being denied a purchase at the convenience store, Purdy said Steele then tried to use the money at other Norwich businesses until she succeeded.
Police said Wich was apprehended after he deposited about $200 of the fake bills in an account and then moments later withdrew new tender from a Norwich bank.
“Counterfeit money investigations can be very difficult to put together. Generally a portion of the illegal money gets distributed by people that have no knowledge the money is fraudulent,” said Purdy. “In this particular case, both subjects knew the money was illegal and both intentionally passed the money to a local merchant and bank.”
The Norwich PD and the Untied States Secret Service began a local investigation Nov. 14, after three local businesses reported they had received fake $50 bills over the weekend.
Police said all of the counterfeit currency collected were $50 and $20 denominations of good quality. Angelino recommended area business check $20 tender and above.
“Just holding one in your hand, it would be difficult to tell. If you had some real bills with you and carefully compared them, the average person would probably notice a slight difference in how they feel,” said Angelino.
The fake bills have no watermarks or identification strips.
Wich and Steele are scheduled to appear in Norwich City Court for a felony hearing Thursday morning and have requested public defenders.
Daniel T. Wich, 39, of South Plymouth and Tiffany Steele, 31, of Norwich, were both charged with first degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, a class C felony.
Detective Michael Purdy said the defendants recently received the counterfeit tender from a source outside of the county and police seized about $350 worth of fake $20 and $50 bills. Purdy said the defendants tried to use the money in separate incidents.
He claimed Steele first attempted to use the phony bills at a Norwich convenience store, but a clerk identified them as fake and refused to take them.
“They did a good job of recognizing the counterfeit; their mistake was handing it back to the customer,” said Norwich Police Chief Angelino. The chief urged businesses to contact police whenever they encounter suspected counterfeits.
After being denied a purchase at the convenience store, Purdy said Steele then tried to use the money at other Norwich businesses until she succeeded.
Police said Wich was apprehended after he deposited about $200 of the fake bills in an account and then moments later withdrew new tender from a Norwich bank.
“Counterfeit money investigations can be very difficult to put together. Generally a portion of the illegal money gets distributed by people that have no knowledge the money is fraudulent,” said Purdy. “In this particular case, both subjects knew the money was illegal and both intentionally passed the money to a local merchant and bank.”
The Norwich PD and the Untied States Secret Service began a local investigation Nov. 14, after three local businesses reported they had received fake $50 bills over the weekend.
Police said all of the counterfeit currency collected were $50 and $20 denominations of good quality. Angelino recommended area business check $20 tender and above.
“Just holding one in your hand, it would be difficult to tell. If you had some real bills with you and carefully compared them, the average person would probably notice a slight difference in how they feel,” said Angelino.
The fake bills have no watermarks or identification strips.
Wich and Steele are scheduled to appear in Norwich City Court for a felony hearing Thursday morning and have requested public defenders.
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