While conducting a probation compliance check at a local motel last week the Orange Police Department’s Crime Reduction Unit discovered a probationer and his girlfriend were in the process of making counterfeit US currency.

Both subjects were arrested and booked into the OC Central Jail.

An estimated $70 million in counterfeit bills are in circulation, or approximately 1 note in counterfeits for every 10,000 in genuine currency, with an upper bound of $200 million counterfeit, or 1 counterfeit per 4,000 genuine notes, according to the United States Department of Treasury. (Wikipedia)

Manufacturing counterfeit United States currency or altering genuine currency to increase its value is a violation of Title 18, Section 471 of the United States Code and is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, or 15 years imprisonment, or both, according to the KCMPD.