WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – A Utica woman is accused of passing $2,000 worth of counterfeit bills at Walmart stores in Jefferson and Lewis counties.
State police allege 32-year-old Starmecca Belton and an unidentified man passed fake $100 bills at Walmart locations in the towns of Watertown, LeRay, and Lowville.
Troopers are still looking for the man.
Belton was arrested Monday and charged with:
- 3 felony counts of first-degree possession of a forged instrument
- 3 felony counts of fourth-degree conspiracy
- 3 misdemeanor counts of petit larceny
According to police, Belton used three counterfeit $100 bills at the town of LeRay Walmart on March 4.
The next day, she allegedly passed 9 fake $100 bills at the Walmart store in the town of Watertown, and eight bogus $100 bills at the town of Lowville location.
Belton was arraigned in Jefferson County Court and ordered held in the Jefferson County Jail on $7,500 bail.
Police said they think they know the identity of the man who was with Belton at the stores.
Troopers said they’re seeing a new trend of people coming from Utica to the north country to pass counterfeit money.
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