EMERSON, N.J.—Four accused members of a Brooklyn counterfeiting crew known to be operating in North Jersey didn’t bank on this: They were in possession of dozens of counterfeit bills when Emerson police stopped them, Police Chief Michael Mazzeo told Pascack Press on Friday.
Police were on alert after the crew was said to pass fake funds at a Fairview QuickChek on Monday, July 19.
Mazzeo said his officers spotted the suspects’ four-door Toyota at approximately 1 a.m. on Thursday, and pulled it over. According to the police report, the occupants claimed they’d been playing basketball in the area.
At the stop, police smelled burnt marijuana from within the Toyota. A search turned up marijuana and paraphernalia and more than two dozen counterfeit $100 bills and a fake $50 bill.
The bills reportedly were linked to those passed in Fairview.
Arrested were Stevon Williams, 25; Deondre Harris, 21; Dontay Williams, 21; and Tzyah Bryan, 20.
Mazzeo said Emerson and Fairview police charged the quartet with money laundering and counterfeiting conspiracy.
Emerson police moreover charged them with possession of controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bryan also was wanted on warrants out of Westwood and Morris County, authorities said.
At press time, the men were being held at Bergen County Jail pending court action. Police also notified the U.S. Secret Service.
