OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Police Department this week is warning the business community about a rash of counterfeit money incidents in and around the resort area including two arrests of suspects for passing $100 bills marked for cinematic use only.
The OCPD is currently investigating a counterfeit currency case involving bills marked for cinematic use only, or so-called “prop” bills. Last Saturday, Ocean City Police arrested two suspects who had attempted to pass counterfeit bills at a local business. Both $100 bills had the same serial number, PR 10008679P, and were marked with the phrase “for motion picture use only.”
Earlier in the evening on Saturday, there was an additional case involving a drug distribution suspect who was in possession of six counterfeit $100 bills, The serial number for all six counterfeit bills was CP 01105192L, and also had the same “for motion picture use only” marking. Since it is only illegal to attempt to pass the fake currency and not possess it, that suspect was not charged in regards to the phony bills.
Ocean City Police are encouraging business owners and employees to closely examine currency by carefully looking at the money being exchanged and being aware of the counterfeit indicators built into legitimate bills. Prop currency with the same denomination and serial numbers has been passed in at least three other Eastern Shore cases and there have been multiple cases reported nationwide. Any business owner that may have a similar case, or would like further information regarding the passing of counterfeit $100 bills, contact OCPD Det. Carl Perry at [email protected].
Meanwhile, the Delaware State Police arrested a Washington, D.C. man on Sunday for allegedly passing counterfeit bills at Harpoon Hanna’s just across the state line in Fenwick. Around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Delaware State Police troopers were dispatched to Harpoon Hanna’s for a possible fraud complaint.
An employee told DSP troopers a friend had made a post on social media about the suspect, later identified as Sidney Rogers III, 25, of Washington, D.C., using counterfeit bills at another restaurant in Ocean City. Rogers had attempted to pay a $155 restaurant check with seven counterfeit bills. When the employee discovered the bills were counterfeit, Rogers allegedly attempted to give the employee and additional $160 in U.S. currency.
Rogers was arrested and charged with seven felony counts of first-degree forgery, possession of counterfeit bills and theft by false pretense. He was committed to the Sussex Correctional Institute on a $36,000 cash bond.
