FRANKLIN
The Franklin Police Department has arrested a Franklin man and a resident of Portsmouth in connection with multiple incidents of passing counterfeit bills on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Andree Trayvez Keel, 20, of Wilson St., Franklin and Quintiez M. Williams, 20, of George Washington Hwy., Portsmouth, have each been charged with two counts of forgery or uttering a bank note. A juvenile has also been arrested in connection with these incidents, but that person’s name is being withheld and charges are still pending.

The suspects were arrested near the Walmart on Armory Drive. Earlier that day, officers were called to the Dairy Queen on Armory Drive in reference to a subject using counterfeit money to purchase an item. After making the arrests, officers learned that the suspects may have also passed counterfeit bills at the Food Lion, also located on Armory Drive.

The Southampton County Sheriff’s Office is working with the Franklin Police Department to determine whether either of the two suspects arrested were involved in an early November counterfeiting incident at another Food Lion on Southampton Parkway.

According to Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Maj. Gene Drewery, the sheriff’s office received a complaint from management of the Southampton Parkway Food Lion on Nov. 4 regarding counterfeit bills passed on Nov. 3. Investigating deputies determined that the suspected transaction occurred on Nov. 3 at approximately 8:51 p.m. when a black male paid cash for a gift card using bills that had the same serial number.

The adult suspects are being held at Western Tidewater Regional Jail without bond.