DUBOIS – A Bushkill man is accused of using counterfeit money at several local businesses.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed with District Judge Patrick Ford’s office on May 11, Samar Dominic Drakeford, 20, 6375 Decker Rd,, Bushkill, is charged by the Sandy Township police with theft by deception.
According to the affidavit, on March 16, police were called to the Burger King for a counterfeit $100 bill that had been given by a customer. The bill was marked with the serial number “LB33291039F.”
Later that same day, police were called to Wal-Mart for a report of a counterfeit $100 bill. The bill given to them by a customer was also marked with the serial number “LB33291039F.” Security video showed a black man, wearing a jacket with distinctive lettering on the front and back.
On March 18, police were called to Taco Bell for reports that a customer paid with a counterfeit bill between 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. March 17. The employees described the suspect as a black man with dreadlocks pulled back in a ponytail. The serial number on the counterfeit bill was also “LB33291039F.”
On March 24, police were called to the Sheetz store near the blinker light for a counterfeit bill, which had been used by a customer to pay for purchases. When police arrived at the store, the bill was marked with the serial number “LB33291039F.”
Security footage shows a black man, wearing a jacket with distinctive lettering on the back and front, walking to an Oldsmobile, which was parked at the pumps. The man was identified as the same person who was shown in the security video from Walmart.
On April 7, police were able to identify the man in the security videos as Drakeford, and performed surveillance on a house at 15 N. Fourth St., DuBois. The officers located a red Oldsmobile, matching the description of the vehicle shown in the security video from Sheetz, and saw Drakeford coming out of the house and getting into the vehicle.
On April 22, police returned to the house on North Fourth Street and saw the Oldsmobile parked at the house. The officers saw a jacket with distinctive lettering draped over the front driver’s side seat in the car. Police then arrested Drakeford and took him to the police station.
Drakeford allegedly admitted that he had used the bills at several businesses in the DuBois area. Drakeford allegedly told police that he would go into the businesses and purchase a small amount of items using the bills and would receive change back. Drakeford allegedly told police that he did not print the bills, but had obtained them in New Jersey.