Police serve warrant, find cache of fake cash

Police think a 32-year-old man arrested at a Morgan Hill hotel Tuesday on suspicion of possession of fake currency is connected to a spike in reports of counterfeit money over the last few months. 

Morgan Hill police contacted the man, a wanted felon, at the Morgan Hill Inn, 16250 Monterey Road, where the suspect had been renting a room, a press release from MHPD said. 

The suspect, Daniel J. Richards, 32 of Morgan Hill, was wanted on a felony warrant out of Orange County for alleged possession of a controlled substance and furnishing marijuana to a minor, police said. 

Richards was not present when police searched the hotel room, but officers observed several pieces of what appeared to be U.S. currency scattered on the floor, tables, counters and bed, police said. The currency was determined to be counterfeit and most of the bills displayed the same serial number. 

During the search, officers stationed in the parking lot of the hotel observed a taxi pull up to the room’s door, and saw Richards and a female acquaintance exit the vehicle, police said. 

Officers arrested Richards on the felony warrant, police said. A search of his person turned up about $700 in fake bills and an unspecified amount of methamphetamine. 

A further search of Richards’ hotel room found about $300 more in counterfeit currency, a printer and other materials associated to the manufacture of fake money, police said. 

Richards was booked at Santa Clara County Jail, police said. 

MHPD has seen a spike of reports of counterfeit being passed within the city over the last several months, and the preliminary investigation into Richards’ activity suggests he might be connected to the majority of these cases, police said. 

The Morgan Hill Downtown Association has scheduled a clinic on counterfeit currency for local businesses for Nov. 13 at Mama Mia’s Ristorante. A Morgan Hill police officer will be present to offer information on how to detect counterfeit money and what to do when a customer attempts to pass a fake bill.

Anyone with information about this crime may contact MHPD at (408) 779-2101.