News : Currency alert: Mount Auburn man charged in case involving fake $50 & $20 bills

The Vinton Police Department is warning Vinton and surrounding retailers to double-check their paper currency for “counterfeit bills” especially during the coming holiday seasons.

On November 14, 2014, Dollar General reported a male subject passed seven $50 bills and four $20 bills which were all counterfeit. Store surveillance cameras aided in identifying and the subject, Joshua Kedrick Penley, 32, of Mount Auburn. An arrest warrant was issued for Penley, who was subsequently arrested by Vinton Police Officers on November 19, 2014 and charged with Forgery, a Class “D” Felony, which carries a sentence of up to five (5) years in prison, minimum of $750.00 to a maximum of $7,500.00 plus surcharge.

Currency inspection

Please take the time to look at the money you receive. Compare a suspect note with a genuine note of the same denomination and series, paying attention to the quality of printing and paper characteristics. Look for differences, not similarities. If you receive several of the same denomination check to make sure that the serial numbers on the bills are not the same on all the bills and if you have a counterfeit detection pen use it but always double-check and visually inspect the bill. For more information on what to look for, visit the Secret Service web site at http://www.secretservice.gov/money_detect.shtml .

*An arrest or criminal charge is merely an accusation and the Defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.