MESQUITE, Nev. — After identifying counterfeit money, an “observant” cashier helped with the arrest of two women for forgery and drug charges last week.
On May 11, two women, Denise R. Wettmarshausen and Darlene S. Galle, attempted to use five $100 counterfeit bills at the Walmart located at 1120 W. Pioneer Blvd., Mesquite Police Sgt. Wyatt Oliver told St. George News on Tuesday.
“The cashier caught on and called us right away,” Oliver added.
After the women left the scene, officers were able to locate the vehicle belonging to the suspects parked in front of their hotel room, and a search warrant was obtained for their vehicle and the hotel room, he said.
Upon search of the vehicle and hotel room, another 12 $100 counterfeit bills reportedly were found along with laptops, printers and other mobile print technology.
“It is unsure if they were printing the money themselves,” Oliver said. “But they had everything they needed in their possession for a forgery lab.”
Authorities say they also found five separate bags of illegal drugs including methamphetamine and heroin, along with five syringes.
Both women were arrested.
Oliver said they each were charged with four Class C felonies and transported to the Clark County Detention Center. Their charges include possessing or receiving forged instruments or bills; possessing with intent to use a fictitious bill, note or check; establishing or possessing a financial forgery laboratory with intent to commit an unlawful act; and burglary of a business.
Oliver said the use of counterfeit money is on the rise within the area and advised cashiers and businesses to be “observant” like the Walmart cashier by thoroughly examining bills. He said that forgery seems to be prevalent with drug offenders.
Find tips for spotting counterfeit money provided by the Secret Service at this link.
This report is based on information provided by law enforcement officials and arrest records and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
Photo Gallery
Two women were arrested for forgery and defrauding a business in Mesquite, Nev., December 2019 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News
Counterfeit $100 bills that led to arrest of two middle-aged women in Mesquite, Nev., May 11, 2023 | Photo Courtesy of Mesquite Police Department, St. George News
Drugs and drug paraphernalia found in possession of two middle-aged women in Mesquite, Nev., May 11, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Mesquite Police Department, St. George News
Counterfeit $100 bills that led to arrest of two middle-aged women in Mesquite, Nev., May 11, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Mesquite Police Department, St. George News
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.