Earlier this month, a male suspect passed along $850 in counterfeit bills at Walmart and returned the items at another store to cash out and get his hands on real currency, according to the Irvine Police Department.
The man paid with “Monopoly money” – he must have thought it was family game night.
The suspect appears to be a middle-aged white male. In surveillance pictures released by the police the suspect was wearing a short-sleeved green button-down shirt and beige slacks. His hair is brown, and brushed back in a failed attempt to conceal his male pattern baldness.
Counterfeit $50 bills won’t work in vending machines, and won’t work in Irvine either!
If you recognize him, help the police to flip the board by contacting Investigator Covarrubias at tcovarru@cityofirvine.org.
Under California Penal Code Section 475, using or possessing counterfeit money with the intent to defraud is a serious offense. Here’s a plain-text breakdown of the penalties the suspect could face:
Penalties for Using Counterfeit Money in California
- Classification: It’s a “wobbler” offense, meaning it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances (e.g., prior criminal history, scale of the fraud).
If Charged as a Misdemeanor:
- Up to 1 year in county jail
- Fines up to $1,000
If Charged as a Felony:
- Up to 3 years in state prison
- Fines up to $10,000
To convict someone, prosecutors must prove two things:
- The person knew the money was counterfeit.
- The person intended to defraud someone by using it.