Montgomery County stores were among those involved in an alleged counterfeit-currency scheme, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office announced Thursday, Nov. 5.
The office charged Fitzroy James, Fabian Coke, Gabriel Young and Christopher Nicholas, all of New York. The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General said charges include organized retail theft, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, conspiracy and related offenses.
Investigators allege that the men exchanged fake currency for merchandise, then returned the goods to obtain genuine cash. The office identified Kohl’s, Target, Home Depot and Lowe’s among the retailers involved.
The release places the alleged activity in 16 Pennsylvania counties. It names Montgomery County but does not identify individual stores there or establish that a Lower Merion location was involved.
According to the office, purchases and attempted purchases using counterfeit bills exceeded $20,000. It alleges that returns brought the group at least $12,436 in proceeds.
The Nov. 5 announcement said efforts to take the men into custody were continuing. It did not provide a court date or include a response from the defendants.
The attorney general’s office credited the U.S. Secret Service, Pennsylvania State Police, local police agencies and retailers’ loss-prevention staff with assisting the investigation. Deputy Attorney General Jenna Strausbaugh is assigned to prosecute the cases, the office said.
The charges are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
