(WHAS11) - Southern Indiana authorities say they've busted a large counterfeiting ring and in the process of that bust, busted a few alleged dope dealers as well.
Authorities say this counterfeit money ring was so big, authorities in Floyd and Harrison counties in Indiana and Oldham County, Kentucky received complaints from businesses about fake money.
So on July 23rd police searched an apartment at a complex on Paoli Pike in southern Indiana. Inside, they found fake money, machines to make fake money and people making the fake money. In all they found 45 hundred dollars worth of fake bills.
And during that investigation someone suspicious knocked on the door. The next day police searched that person's apartment, which was in the same complex, and found a half pound of marijuana, prescription pills and ecstasy.
Sergeant Jerry Goodin says authorities are pretty sure these counterfeiters not only duped several businesses, but also duped drug dealers.
"We have information that leads us to believe that a lot of this counterfeit money was going to buy drugs. What we're asking today, is that we want all the drug dealers to call us, okay? We want to get all of your information, find out exactly what happened there so we can follow up on your case and see what we can do to try to help you. trust us, call us,” said Goodin.
Police charged Jerry Davey and Johnathan Frantz in the counterfeit ring. Michael Case, Lindsay Portwood and Woodrow Wulikowski face drug charges.
The suspects told police they will pay restitution to the businesses that they duped.
