A spending spree of counterfeit money that has stretched from New York to South Carolina came to an end in Ironton.

Sunday, September 16, 2001

A spending spree of counterfeit money that has stretched from New York to South Carolina came to an end in Ironton.

Capt. Chris Bowman, a detective with the city’s police department, said Lima resident Mark J. Cole, 21, was arrested Tuesday at a home located at the 200 block of N. Sixth St.

Cole, the detective explained, attempted to purchase items at the Speedway store located on Park Avenue on Monday.

The bills, all $20 denominations, appeared to have been made using a color printer. The phony money was highly detailed but the counterfeiters were unable to incorporate some of the security measures the treasury department places on U.S. currency.

All of the bills have similar serial numbers. Bowman said the serial numbers used on the bills are: BD35799329B and BE52402756A.

IPD, in cooperation with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, the county’s Prosecuting Attorney’s office and the U.S. Secret Service, are continuing the investigation. Bowman said it is not known whether Cole was the manufacturer of the cash or was only trying to pass the money. When Cole was arrested, he had about $300 of the fake cash in his possession.

Cole is facing charges on forgery for uttering counterfeit currency.