Counterfeit money case goes to federal court
TODAY: (Updated 6:02 p.m.) An 18-year-old Chicago man has been indicted in federal court and accused of passing counterfeit money at several businesses in Geneseo, Ill., last month.
A federal grand jury indicted Ryan W. Cross in U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, on charges of conspiracy to pass counterfeit and passing a counterfeit federal reserve note.
Cross was arrested June 27 with two 16-year-olds, a boy and a girl, and was originally charged in Henry County Circuit Court. The juveniles were also charged in state court, but there was no indication they will be charged federally.
According to the indictment, Cross obtained $100 counterfeit bills, and on June 27, he and his accomplices drove to Geneseo in a 2007 Buick SUV.
One of the juveniles passed a counterfeit bill at the Geneseo Wal-Mart, and Cross passed a bill at Hardees, the indictment alleges.
The defendants also tried to pass a counterfeit bill at a Culver’s restaurant, the indictment states. According to Geneseo police, it was a Culver’s employee who contacted them about the fake money.
Dustin Lemmon can be contacted at (563) 383-2493 or dlemmon@qctimes.com.