By james art OREM, Utah (KUTV) — Three people were arrested after counterfeit bills were used at several Target and Kohl’s in Utah.
Michael Canary Ramos, 22; Fernando Granados Velis, 24; and Jennifer Kespe, 23; are facing multiple felony charges including theft, retail theft, pattern of unlawful activity, forgery and criminal conspiracy.
On Saturday, employees at the Orem Target contacted the Orem Police Department after four people tried to buy items with counterfeit $100 bills. They also tried to return items purchased at Target in Spanish Fork with counterfeit $100 bills, the affidavit states.
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The officers told police they compared the counterfeit bills to other $100 bills they had on hand and discovered three of the bills were counterfeit.
Two of the bills were found abandoned at the register and another was found in the parking lot, the affidavit said.
The suspects were confirmed by both video surveillance and counterfeit bills, some of which had identical serial numbers.
On Monday, multiple law enforcement officers working with the Utah Attorney General’s Office located the suspect vehicle and took three of the four suspects into custody in Riverdale.
Police seized more than $1,400 in Target merchandise, more than $500 in Kohl’s merchandise, 88 counterfeit $100 bills and more than $4,000 in U.S. currency.
An investigation revealed several affected Target and Kohl’s stores across the state, including:
October 26:
- Spanish fork target
- Provo Towne Center Target
- Provo State Street Target
- On Orem Coll
- Orem Target
- American Fork Target
- Kohl’s American Fork (x2)
October 27:
- South Jordan target
- Fort Union Target
- West Jordan Target
- West Valley City Target
- Kohl’s American Fork
October 28:
- Centerville Coll
- Centerville target
- On Leighton Coll
- Clinton Coll
Target Loss and Prevention estimates their total loss at approximately $4,300. Kohl’s estimates its total loss at approximately $4,100, the affidavit said.
All three suspects in custody are foreign nationals awaiting immigration hearings and have listed addresses in New York and New Jersey. Police were unable to confirm those addresses, the affidavit said.
The affidavit also notes that all three suspects have no known ties to Utah.
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