More than $1K recovered in bogus bills case; 5 New Milford students charged

The Secret Service says it has recovered more than $1,000 in counterfeit bills allegedly printed by a teenager using an inkjet printer. Five New Milford High School students are facing charges after

News 12 Staff

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May 30, 2014, 4:53 AM

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Updated 3,882 days ago

The Secret Service says it has recovered more than $1,000 in counterfeit bills allegedly printed by a teenager using an inkjet printer.

Five New Milford High School students are facing charges after counterfeit $20 bills with the same serial numbers began surfacing at local businesses over a four-week period.

Police say one teen printed $5 and $20 bills, all with the same serial numbers, and then passed them out to four friends.

The teens allegedly used the money at a local 7-Eleven and two other retailers in Paramus and Dumont. Eventually, a clerk at a Dunkin' Donuts spotted the bogus bills and reported it.

"Detectives reviewed video surveillance and noticed the offenders had New Milford attire on," New Milford Police Chief Frank Papapietro says.

Police and the Secret Service worked with the school to positively ID the teens. The superintendent says they even successfully passed one of the bills in the cafeteria.

"I think it was a terrible decision," says New Milford senior Joe Victory. "I think they should have gotten an actual job and worked for their money."

"I was very surprised when I heard it and kind of embarrassed for our town that this would happen," says New Milford senior Kevin Tice.

The school is now conducting its own internal investigation and says the students involved will face disciplinary action.