Newark man charged with counterfeiting

A Wayne County man has been arrested for producing and distributing counterfeit U.S. currency.

Jeffrey S. Tyler, 19, of Newark was charged with one count of criminal possession of forgery devices and four counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument. All five of those counts are felonies.

Police allege that Tyler produced counterfeit 10, 20, and 50 dollar bills and used them to purchase illegal narcotics.

In all, officials believe he produced thousands of dollars of the counterfeit bills.

After the counterfeit money was given to drug dealers, it was later passed on to unknowing victims in Wayne County and the surrounding counties of Monroe, Ontario, and Yates.

Most victims did not discover their losses until the bogus bills were deposited at area banks.

Members of the Newark and Geneva police departments and the U.S. Secret Service searched a residence on East Maple Avenue in the town of Newark last month, where they uncovered computer scanning devices, counterfeit US currency and supplies linked to the production of counterfeit currency.

The investigation broadened to surrounding counties as investigators began a lengthy search for victims of the crime.

Tyler was arraigned before Village Justice Michael Miller and remanded to the Wayne County Jail in lieu of $3,500 bail or $7,000 bond. He will reappear in village court on April 1.

This investigation is continuing with additional arrests possible.

SLAHMAN@Gannett.com

Twitter.com/SeanLahman