Mother, daughter face counterfeiting charges
Toolbox
By Josh O'Gorman STAFF WRITER - Published: August 6, 2009
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A mother and daughter accused of possessing phony money each pleaded innocent to a felony charge and were released from court on conditions, including that they not possess a printer.
Sandy L. Jones, 42, of Sharon, and Nicole L. Moses, 25, of South Royalton, both entered innocent pleas July 28 in White River Junction District Court to a felony charge of possession of counterfeit money, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison and a $1,000 fine.
Both women are free without posting bail on conditions, including the condition prohibiting them from possessing a printer.
According to documents filed with the court, on June 19, Jones entered Tracy's Midway Station at the intersection of Route 14 and Faybrook Road in Sharon and used three $20 bills to pay for gas.
Records state the clerk thought the money looked unusual but accepted it anyway, but after rubbing the bills with a currency pen she confirmed they were counterfeit and she called the store owner, who called the police.
Records state the store owner also called Jones, whose husband returned to the store to make good on the debt. He then called other store owners in the area and told them to be on the lookout for counterfeit cash.
The same day, records state, Moses entered the Corner Stop Mini Mart in South Royalton and used what appeared to be a $50 bill to buy cigarettes, lottery tickets and a beverage for her daughter. Again, according to court records, the clerk thought the money looked odd but accepted it anyway, but after a receiving a call from Tracy's Midway Station warning of the counterfeit money, the clerk returned to the register, found the money and confirmed it was fake.
Police interviewed Jones and Moses, who explained where the counterfeit cash might have come from. According to affidavits, Jones told police she received the bills in change when she went shopping in West Lebanon, N.H. Moses told police she received the $50 when she had a fundraiser to buy a pool for her daughter, records state.
After examining the bills in both incidents, police said they appeared to have been made on a color copier and cut from full-size sheets of paper. In both cases, the color, uneven borders and lack of straight edges made the bills stand out, records state.
josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com
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