FRAZER TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – Four people are facing numerous charges after police say they tried to pass off thousands in fake $100 bills at the Pittsburgh Mills Mall.
Police say three men and one female, a juvenile, from the Bronx, New York, passed off the counterfeit money at about 20 stores.
They allegedly would buy $5 or $6 worth of merchandise at a store to make change out of the fake bills. Police say they had thousands in fake $100 bills.
“They were making small purchases, small items and they would pay with big bills and receive real money for the correct change, so they were washing the money,” said Frazer Police Sgt. Brian Pazak.
Among the stores hit were Victoria’s Secret, American Eagle, Foot Action, H&M and Starbucks.
Mall security reported the bogus bills at one of the stores and an officer spotted the foursome leaving the mall and pulled them over.
They were later arrested during a traffic stop.
The suspects have been identified as 27-year-old Raul Agero, 26-year-old Steven Orr, 18-year-old Juan Quinones and a 17-year-old female.
All four face 22 counts of forgery each, plus additional counts of theft and corruption of a minor.
The three men were taken the Allegheny County Jail and the juvenile female was taken to the Shuman Center.