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ERATH COUNTY (December 10, 2015) — On November 23, 2015, the Bosque County Sheriff’s Office in Bosque County arrested Brice Gilliam and Jessica Villegas of Dublin.
During that arrest Gilliam and Villegas were found to be in possession of approximately $3,200 in counterfeit U.S. Currency. Investigators of the Bosque County Sheriff’s Office learned the counterfeit money had originated in Erath County. On December 1, investigators of the Erath County Sheriff’s Office followed up on this information and learned of several people involved with the counterfeit operation.
Erath County Sheriff’s Office conducted surveillance on those individuals. Later on December 1, investigators and deputies with the Erath County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in Stephenville. The occupants of that vehicle were found to be Michael Day II of Stephenville, Amber Medford of Dublin and Tillman Mccamey of Stephenville.
As a results of that traffic stop Day and Medford were found to be in possession of marijuana in an amount of less than two ounces. Tillman was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and $300 in counterfeit U.S. currency. Day was found to also be in possession of $25 in counterfeit U.S. currency as well as a stolen firearm that had recently been taken during a burglary of a habitation in Stephenville.
At that point, due to this offense involving counterfeit U.S. currency and the information that the counterfeit U.S. currency was being produced in Stephenville, the United States Secret Service was contacted. Investigators continued to investigate the offense and on December 2, a search warrant for a residence in Stephenville was issued. With the assistance of the Stephenville Police Department Criminal Investigation Division and a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service, investigators of the Erath County Sheriff’s Office executed that search warrant.
As a result of that search warrant execution, James Brackett of Stephenville was found to be in possession of methamphetamine in an amount over four grams but less than 200 grams, marijuana in an amount less than two ounces and prescription medication that was not prescribed to Brackett and listed in the Texas Health and Safety Code as dangerous drugs. Investigators then obtained information that counterfeit money from this organization had been used at the Staples Store in Stephenville, as well as the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Stephenville.
The investigation found that during the first part of December 2015 $40 counterfeit U.S. currency had been used at the Staples Store for the purchase of a tool used to cut paper. Investigators also learned that during the course of three separate transactions a combined total of approximately $800 counterfeit U.S. currency had been passed at the Wal-Mart Supercenter for the purchase of a computer printer, a PlayStation 4 video game system and 12 volt electrical children’s toy car. Other small items were also purchased during these transactions.
As part of this investigation Daniel Fry of Stephenville was found to be part of this operation. On December 9, a Third Degree Felony Forgery arrest warrant for Fry was issued. At approximately 4 p.m. on December 9, Fry was found to be at the Radio Shack Store in Stephenville attempting to return a piece of merchandise. Stephenville Police Department patrol officers and investigators, as well Erath County Sheriff’s Office deputies and investigators responded to the Radio Shack Store and placed Fry under arrest.
During Fry’s arrest he was found to be in possession of several items that had been purchased with counterfeit U.S. currency, as well as the items Fry was using to produce the counterfeit U.S. currency. Fry was placed under arrest and transported to the Erath County Jail where he was booked in for the arrest warrant.
The investigation continued and during the later night hours of December 9, a search warrant for another location in Stephenville was issued. Investigators of the Erath County Sheriff’s Office then executed that search and located a large amount of items that had been purchased by Fry and his associates with counterfeit U.S. currency.
Several of those items are being processed by investigators at this point and will likely be returned to their rightful owners. Information was also obtained by investigators that counterfeit U.S. currency from this operation has been used in Granbury and Hood County. Investigators had been in contact with the Granbury Police Department in reference to those transactions. Over the course of this investigation investigators have recovered over $4,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency that had originated from this operation and used in several counties.
This investigation is still currently on going and more arrest warrants for other parties involved are pending. Erath County Sheriff’s office officials said this investigation is another example of how well local law enforcement agencies work with one another. The agencies involved in this investigation are the Bosque County Sheriff’s Office, Stephenville Police Department, Granbury Police Department, United States Secret Service and the Erath County Sheriff’s Office. This combined agency investigation has resulted in not only taking the individuals involved with the counterfeit operation off the streets of Erath County, but it has solved burglaries as well as illegal narcotics cases.
The Erath County Sheriff’s Office asks any business who believes they have received counterfeit U.S. currency to contact the Erath County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division. The Erath County Sheriff’s Office also wants to remind anybody involved with this operation that it would be in their best interest to also contact the Erath County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation with any information that they may have.
Mark one down for the good guys! Way to go Law Enforcement!