PRESQUE ISLE – City police believe a low level effort at counterfeiting has been stopped in the area, but there is the possibility that three more fake $10 bills may be out there.

While no arrests have been made by Presque Isle police or a federal secret service agent working on the case, three people are suspected of being involved, authorities said over the weekend.

“The bills are a fair replication of real money, but the paper was kind of washed out,” Presque Isle Detective Wayne Selfridge said Saturday. “The money was passed out at several city businesses during busy times, making it harder for the bills to be detected.”

The counterfeit bills were made by computer upon which a graphic design was created and printed. The computer believed used in the counterfeit operation was seized by police from a Third Street residence.

Selfridge said three 19-year-old men have been identified by police as those being responsible for the crime. They have not been charged. The cases will be reviewed by Maine’s U.S. Attorney for possible submission to a federal grand jury for indictment.

Police have recovered 13 of the fake bills, and they believe there may be three others in circulation. Police were fairly sure there were only 16 bills involved in the illegal effort.

The bills started surfacing in Presque Isle on Tuesday, Jan. 16, and some were found on the following day.

The first complaint came from a city service station where a phony $10 bill was used to make a purchase. The initial report was followed up by six more complaints from city merchants who also took in the phony money. After the complaints, police initiated video surveillance. They were joined by the federal agent from Portland.

“It was a small-time effort,” Selfridge said. “We believe the 16 bills are the extent of the activity.”

Officials said counterfeiters can get up to 10 years in jail for the illegal activity.

Selfridge urged anyone suspecting they possess a counterfeit bill to call the Presque Isle Police Department. Assisting Selfridge and the federal agent in the investigation were Sgt. Joey Seeley and Officers Brian McQuarrie and Craig Holder, all of the Presque Isle Police Department.