Juveniles detained for counterfeiting
Published 11:04 am Thursday, February 4, 2016
Deputies from the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office last month detained three juveniles who attempted to pass counterfeit $20 bills at the 7-Eleven on Southampton Parkway in Courtland.
“A number of counterfeit bills and suspected marijuana were seized on that day and the juveniles were released [in]to the custody of their parents,” Major Gene H. Drewery, spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said in a press release on Thursday.
The incident occurred on Jan. 16. The forged money was also passed at Southampton High School and the Duck Thru in Courtland, and attempts were made at the 7-Eleven on Main Street earlier that week.
The three juveniles allegedly printed the counterfeit currency at one of their residences using dollar bills and removing the ink through a chemical process. Then, using the ink in a household printer, reproduced the bills.
Both the parents and juveniles were cooperative with the sheriff’s office, which believes that all of the counterfeit bills have been recovered. They have been referred to the Southampton County Court Services Unit for disposition of the charges.
Detective Camden Cobb added that the intake officers will determine whether or not the juveniles are “to be served and formally taken into custody.”
Update at 12:45 p.m.: An earlier version of this story stated that the juveniles had been arrested. Because they are not adults, they were not booked by the sheriff’s office. The intake officer will determine whether or not to file charges.