Two Trenton, New Jersey men are behind bars Wednesday accused of passing off counterfeit money at least two Lower Bucks County businesses, with the strong possibility of more “funny money” passed at other local businesses.
According to the criminal complaint, Falls Police were dispatched to Fairless Hills Best Buy for a forgery complaint. Bucks County Radio advised a suspect attempted to make a purchase using $500 in fake $20 bills and fled in a silver Kia sedan bearing New Jersey tags.
Officer Daniel Matkowski made contact with the electronics outlet’s loss prevention officer who said two black males entered the store together and split up going towards different sections of the store. The loss prevention officer provided photographs of the suspects and the Kia to police. Suspect #1, later positively identified as Kyle Silvis, eventually walked to the cash register, where the loss prevention officer was, and asked to purchase a PlayStation 5, valued at $499.99. Silvis provided him a wad of $20 bills as payment for the popular game console. During this time, Suspect #2, later positively identified as Kameron Smith, exited Best Buy, entering the Kia’s driver’s seat. The loss prevention officer noticed the $20 bills were counterfeit, due to their waxy texture and discolorations. He told Silvis the bills were fake. Silvis fled, exiting Best Buy, walked to the Kia, entered it and it sped off.
Kameron Smith
Credit: Falls Twp Police
Middletown Township Police located the Kia in the Target parking lot, 2300 block of Lincoln Ave. Silvis and Smith were located inside the store’s electronic section and taken into custody. A search of Silvis yielded a second wad of counterfeit $20 bills, police said.
Officer Michael Collins located a Raising Canes bag, with a receipt, next to the Kia. Collins further investigated by going to the Raising Canes in Fairless Hills learning Silvis and Smith allegedly purchased food, using a counterfeit $20, police wrote in court records.
Kyle Silvis
Credit: Falls Twp Police
The Kia’s owner, a friend of the suspects, responded to the Middletown Township Police Department to retrieve her Kia. She consented to a search of the vehicle, in which Matkowski found an additional wad of counterfeit $20s, in the glove box.
Magisterial District Judge Corryn L. Kronnagel arraigned Smith and Silvis late Tuesday afternoon on felony forgery, conspiracy, and possessing an instrument of crime charges, setting bail at 10 percent of $ 75,00.00 for both men and remanding them to Bucks County Correctional Facility with a November 6 court date to answer to the charges.