Police: Counterfeiting ring broken up
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Detectives say the couple had been printing the bogus bills and passing them at businesses in Charlotte and Saras
ENGLEWOOD - Charlotte County Sheriff's Economic Crimes Unit detectives arrested two people Tuesday and shut down a major counterfeiting operation in the Englewood area.
A total of 238 felony charges were filed by ECU Detectives. Bond was set at $297,500 for each suspect and both were in the Charlotte County Jail.
The investigation began Oct. 13 with the arrest of David Kay Lawrence, 44, 12372 Bacchus Road, Gulf Cove, on two felony charges of possessing and uttering counterfeit bills. He posted bond that day.
That same say, a clerk at the Sunoco station, 1680 S. McCall Rd., Englewood, reported a man attempting to pass a fake $20 was the same man who passed a bogus $20 bill Oct. 3, which was caught on store video. Deputies arrested Lawrence as he was leaving the store.
The ECU detective's investigation led to a home at 10113 Edmonton Ave., Englewood, where more fake bills were allegedly being manufactured. Detectives notified the U.S. Secret Service and both agencies went to the home and met Kellie Kay Ordish, 30, who allowed them to search the house. Detectives seized an HP Printer, special paper, and various items used to make the fake bills. The front and back of the counterfeit bills were printed separately and glued together.
ECU Detectives report they confiscated 10 counterfeit $10 bills and nine $20 bills. A search of the garage located a large garbage bag with 73 counterfeit $20 bills, and 25 counterfeit $10 bills in various stages of production. Detectives say the couple had been printing the bogus bills and passing them at businesses in Charlotte and Sarasota counties.
Lawrence and Ordish are charged with 117 felony counts each for forging bank bills, one count of possessing forged bills, and one count of making/possessing instruments for forging bills.
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