LAKEPORT >> Police broke up an alleged counterfeiting ring operating out of a Lakeport motel room last week.
The investigation has been ongoing since the afternoon of June 28, when Lakeport Police, acting on a tip, arrested Christina Elizabeth Williams, 53, and Louis Anthony Lopez, 40.
According to Police Chief Brad Rasmussen, the pair had been using fake $100 bills at area businesses for several days prior to their arrest. They not only purchased merchandise, but also exchanged the bills for gift cards.
Officers and a detective began surveillance immediately after receiving information regarding a counterfeiting operation occurring in a motel room in the 1100 block of North Main Street in downtown Lakeport. After just a few hours, they were able to locate and arrest the suspects, both believed to be from the Bay Area.
During the investigation at the scene, officers seized numerous items of evidence including counterfeiting printing plates, counterfeited currency and other evidence of the operation, according to Rasmussen. A suspect vehicle was seized and towed to a Lakeport Police evidence facility for later processing.
On Friday, after receiving a search warrant, detectives examined the vehicle and retrieved paper, ink, washing soap, printing equipment and other items related to counterfeiting.
Williams and Lopez were both found to have numerous arrest warrants from out of area agencies. They were booked into the Lake County jail on existing warrants. They also face felony charges including manufacture and possession of counterfeiting plates, possession of counterfeited notes and possession of notes with the intent to defraud.
“Due to both subjects’ extensive prior criminal histories and lack of known residence information, officers requested and were granted a bail enhancement to $150,000 on the counterfeiting charges,” Rasmussen reported in a prepared statement.
Both subjects currently remain in custody with Lopez’s total bail set at $360,000 and Williams bail set at $190,000.
LPD Detective Dale Stoebe has been following up on leads at businesses in the county. He has also been in communication with agents from the United States Secret Service, the agency with ultimate responsibility for counterfeiting crimes.
“We are asking businesses who may have received counterfeited bills related to these suspects to contact Detective Dale Stoebe,” Rasmussen said.
Stoebe can be reached at 707-263-5491, extension 102 or by email at dstoebe@lakeportpolice.org.
