Fake bills used to pay court fines Phony money detected in Skowhegan area

SKOWHEGAN – The same day a local man was arrested for passing counterfeit $50 bills at a Skowhegan business, five more $20 counterfeit bills were discovered at Skowhegan District Court.

Deputy Chief Rick Bonneau of the Skowhegan Police Dept. said Ronney Lang, 31, of Skowhegan was arrested Wednesday and charged with theft by deception for passing two fake $50 bills at Butler’s Cleaners. Lang was caught on film, Bonneau said.

Meanwhile, another man was questioned Wednesday when he attempted to pay a fine at Skowhegan District Court with fake $20s and court personnel questioned the bills’ validity.

Not counting the $100 at court, Bonneau said, about $280 in fake bills have been turned in to police. The investigation is ongoing, he said.

“We charged Lang with theft by deception because there is no state statute dealing with counterfeiting,” Bonneau said. The charge could result in six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Bonneau said that phony bills began showing up at local businesses in early November. “We’re not alone,” he added, noting that Lewiston has been “inundated” and Kittery was having problems with counterfeits.

Bonneau said the bills confiscated in Skowhegan had a slightly different coloration and feel than real bills. He said, however, that the investigation didn’t rise to the level that would involve federal officials.

Bonneau would not reveal if Lang was manufacturing the bills or just passing them. “That part is still under investigation,” he said.