Suspects Arrested for Attempting to Pass Counterfeit Money

SAN ANGELO, TX — San Angelo Police arrested suspects Thursday who were attempting to pass counterfeit money.

According to the SAPD, investigators with the San Angelo Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division charged a 26-year-old San Angelo woman with Forgery of Government/National Government Instrument/Money/Security following a lengthy field investigation Thursday afternoon, April 11, 2019.

Officers were initially dispatched to the Smokers Outlet located at 1902 North Chadbourne Street for the report of a woman and two passengers in a white GMC Yukon that drove off after the driver attempted to purchase beer and cigarettes with counterfeit money.

During the follow-up investigation, Patrol Officers determined the Yukon was registered to a local car dealership. Officers went to the dealership and spotted the Yukon in the lot— It was then they learned the Yukon had recently been taken out for a test-drive by three subjects who returned it about an hour later and that the subjects, who were now test-driving another vehicle, were expected to return soon. Officers also learned that the vehicle the suspects arrived in, a green Ford Escape, was parked in the lot.

Once the subjects returned, Officers converged on the area and detained the trio without incident. They were identified as 26-year-old Eternity Sanchez, 28-year-old Albert Garcia, and 26-year-old Crystal N. Garcia of San Angelo.

During an open-air ‘sniff’ of the suspect’s Ford Escape, Police Service Dog Vader alerted the officers to the presence of contraband. Vader’s alert led to a probable cause search of the vehicle where officers located Methamphetamine.

Subsequent to the field investigation, Sanchez was found to be in possession of additional counterfeit U.S. currency. Garcia was arrested for State Jail Felony Possession of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 as well as warrants of arrest for GOB Aggravated Robbery, GOB Fleeing Police Officer and GOB Evading Arrest Detention. C. Garcia received a citation for Drug Paraphernalia that was located inside her clothing.

The Department’s Anti-Crime Unit assisted with the investigation.