Five northern New Jersey high school students are facing charges stemming from a counterfeiting scheme.
Counterfeit $20 bills with the same serial numbers began surfacing atbusinesses in and around the city of New Milford over a four-week period beginning in April. Police reviewed security video and identified the students.
Police Chief Frank Papapietro tells The Record newspaper that officers discovered the bogus bills were made by a student on his home printer and were given to the others who distributed them. The first reported case was discovered at a Dunkin Donuts after police said seven of these notes had the exact same serial number.
Two of the students are charged with passing forged bills, possession of forgery equipment and theft by deception. The others are charged with theft by deception.
Police say all were charged as juveniles and released to their parents. Their names have not been released because they are minors.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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