Franklin, Va. – Three people have been arrested and charged in a counterfeit money scheme in Franklin, police tell NewsChannel 3.
It happened on August 28, 2013 around 2 p.m. Police responded to the New Dixie Exxon in reference to a person attempting to pass counterfeit money. The suspect was gone by the time police arrived.
A suspect and vehicle description were broadcast to surrounding jurisdictions, police say.
Police say the suspects attempted to pass counterfeit money at the following locations: Sunoco Food Mart, 1011 Armory Drive; Slip In, 1293 Armory Drive; New Dixie Exxon, 1500 Armory Drive; and Kangaroo, 1643 Armory Drive.
Later that day, Franklin police were notified by Southampton County deputies that they had stopped the suspect vehicle. A subsequent investigation led to the discovery of additional counterfeit bills.
Further investigation by Franklin officers and Southampton deputies led to the arrest of three Portsmouth men who are being held in the Southampton County Jail, according to Captain T. W. Whitt of the Franklin Police Department.
Police arrested 22-year-old Matthew Ryan Montoya of Portsmouth. He is charged with conspiring to utter, or attempting to employ as true a false, forged, or base coin, note or bill, knowing it to be false; obtaining money by false pretenses, less than $200; and possession of ten or more forged bank notes.
Also arrested was 25-year-old Gerald Leslie Neblett of Portsmouth. He is charged with conspiring to utter, or attempt to employ as true a false, forged, or base coin, note or bill, knowing it to be false; and obtaining by false pretense or token, less than $200.
Police arrested 27-year-old Nicholas Iain Spencer of Portsmouth. He is charged with conspiring to utter, or attempt to employ as true a false, forged, or base coin, note or bill, knowing it to be false; and obtaining by false pretense or token, less than $200.
All three suspects remain in the Southampton County Jail.
The investigation is ongoing. Stay with NewsChannel 3 for updates.
