A counterfeit $20 bill

Charles Miller

Clemente “Stout” Martinez

        Authorities became aware of the situation after the first reported incident. According to Tanisha Tucker, 23-year-old bartender of DFC Area, at around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 28th, a Hispanic man visited her place of work, Compadres Bar in the Boca Del Rio Area. The individual ordered two beers, paid with a $20US note, was given his change after which he left. The note wore the serialnumber EG 50443732B and soon after realizing that the money was a counterfeit, she proceeded to report the incident to the police. Police carried out an investigation which led to the arrest of one Charles Miller, 40-year-old resident of San Pedrito Area, San Pedro Town. Miller was charged for the offense of possession of “Counterfeit Currency.”

        That same night, half an hour later, another report was made. A bartender of Juvinie’s Bar reported that around 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 28th, 2008 while bartending at the bar, a dark skinned male person purchased two beers and a soft drink paying with a US$20 note and he got Bze$30 in change. She later found out that the note bearing serial number EG50443732B was counterfeit and reported the matter to Police.

        The third hit in a span of two days occurred when Modesta Jean, 39-year-old, Nicaraguan naturalized Belizean bartender of San Pablo Area, San Pedro Town, received payment with counterfeit currency. Her report to the San Pedro Police Department stated that on Wednesday, August 27th, at around 10:30 p.m. whilst at her work place, Amigo’s Bar situated on Ambergris Street, a male person whom she has known for the past two years by the name of ‘Tar Baby’ ordered a beer and paid with a $20US. Once she realized that the bill was a fake she made a report to the police. Upon inspection it was realized that the note also contained serial number EG50443732B. Police detained Ernest Wright, 39-year-old, resident of the San Juan Area, pending an investigation.

        Police had their hands full with false money cases when other hits happened a day after, and ironically, in all instances, the bills were all $20US and all bore the same serial number. In this case, Mario Garcia, 42-year-old, businessman of Caracol Street, San Pedro Town, reported that on Friday, August 29th, at around 1:30 p.m. a bartender served a patron known to her as “Stout” who purchased a beer at the said bar. He paid with a US$20 note and got $36Bze in change. About 10:30 p.m. later that night, the same Hispanic male person returned to the bar and purchased one more beer paying with another US$20 note. He got another $36Bze change and left after he drank the beer. The following day Garcia discovered that both notes bearing serial number EG50443732B were not genuine. However, another bartender from Compadre’s Bar reported that about 8:30 p.m. on the same Thursday, a man fitting the same description given by Garcia, visited the bar and ordered two Belikin Stouts. The individual paid with a US$20 bill and got $32Bze in change. The bartender later discovered the bill to be counterfeit and it bore the same serial number as the ones previously reported.

        On Friday, August 29th, 2008 about 10:00 p.m. officers responded to Compadres Bar where a search was conducted on a male person identified as the one previously involved in both incidents. The search revealed one more US$20 bill with the same serial number on his person. He was identified as Clemente “Stout” Martinez, 39, Salvadoran laborer of San Mateo Area, San Pedro Town who was subsequently charged for three counts of Possession of Counterfeit Currency and two counts of Obtaining property by deception.

        In another desperate attempt to pass false currency as legal tender, Mercedes Garcia, 37-year-old businesswoman of Glitter Street, San Pedro Town, reported that on Saturday, August 30th, at around 9:00 p.m. whilst at her business place, Back-a-Town Bar, of the above mentioned address, Charles Miller, previously arrested that Thursday night, ordered a beer and paid out of a $20US note bearing serial number EG50443732B. After placing the note under a light, she discovered that the note was counterfeit and Garcia told him to wait for his change. Miller proceeded to act aggressively towards her and attempted to take away the said $20US, but his attempts were futile. He was then escorted off the establishment by security guards. Charles Miller was detained pending charges for Possession of Counterfeit Currency and Common Assault.

        The San Pedro Police Department wishes to remind the general public that counterfeit notes are not legal tender and are therefore, worthless. Furthermore, the possession of a counterfeit currency note, and knowing it to be counterfeit, is a criminal offense. Members of the public are reminded that special security features are incorporated into the US currency notes for this reason. The Central Bank further advises that any person offered a suspected counterfeit currency note should hold it up to the light to see if it has the security features such as watermarks before accepting it. If these features are not present, the matter should immediately be reported to the police.