What looked like at first a possible money laundering scheme or
drug-related money scheme turned out to be a relatively minor
counterfeiting case, according to Morgan Hill Police.
What looked like at first a possible money laundering scheme or drug-related money scheme turned out to be a relatively minor counterfeiting case, according to Morgan Hill Police.
A maid cleaning a room at the Executive Inn on Condit Road on Tuesday afternoon found sheets of what appeared to be counterfeit money in the trash can. The maid reported it to the manager, who in turn called the police.
The occupants of the room had checked out.
“The room was searched for drug paraphernalia and other evidence, but nothing was found,” said MHPD Cpl. Rodney Reno.
As is procedure with all counterfeit cases, Reno said, the U.S. Secret Service was notified. The case was returned to MHPD when the evidence did not indicate a major organization or incident.
“This was real preliminary stuff,” Reno said of the counterfeit bills, which appeared to be copies of $10, $20 and $50 bills on regular 8 1/2 by 11 inch yellow paper. “This was not even close to passable. It certainly wouldn’t fool anyone. It may have been a trial and error thing.”
Reno said there are, however, laws about making even regular photocopies of bills.
Once he began investigating the case, Reno found there were many suspects in the room, and when he showed photographs to the manager of possible suspects, the manager could not identify them.
The investigation will continue, Reno said, but arrests are not imminent.
The suspects may have no connection to Morgan Hill and may not return, he said.
The suspects did pay the Executive Inn bill in cash, but the bills were not counterfeit, Reno said.
