Albert Lea woman charged in funny money bust

Published 9:30 am Thursday, February 24, 2011

A 28-year-old Albert Lea woman has been charged in Cerro Gordo County District Court with multiple charges tied to what officials are calling a counterfeit ring.

Meranda Lynn O’Connor has been charged with three counts of forgery and one count of ongoing criminal conduct, all felonies, stemming from the alleged activity in Cerro Gordo County.

O’Connor allegedly attempted to pass $5 bills made to look like $50 or $100 bills at multiple businesses in Mason City, Iowa.

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Similar activity has also been reported in the Albert Lea area, though no charges have been filed yet against O’Connor in Freeborn County.

The Albert Lea Police Department sent a memo to Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce members Feb. 10, informing business owners that counterfeit $100 bills were being passed in the area.

The bills were reportedly washed $5 bills with the $100 denomination printed on the paper, so counterfeit pens would not show them as counterfeit.

If the bills were checked, they would have the wrong security strip or the incorrect water mark — either the $5 strip or the profile of President Abraham Lincoln.

A legitimate $100 bill would have Benjamin Franklin.

This is the same counterfeit method that was being used in O’Connor’s alleged counterfeit attempts in Iowa.

Albert Lea Police Chief Dwaine Winkels said he could not confirm whether O’Connor is being investigated in these cases.

According to Cerro Gordo County District Court records, O’Connor allegedly attempted to pass counterfeit money at Shopko, Mills Fleet Farm and Kmart in Mason City.

She has been charged with one count of forgery for each of these businesses.

The ongoing criminal conduct charge involves passing counterfeit money at three or more businesses.

O’Connor reportedly turned herself into police in Mason City on Feb. 15 after police issued a felony arrest warrant.

She has since posted a $50,000 bond.

Look for Progress 2011: Everyday Heroes in the Sunday, Feb. 27 edition of the Albert Lea Tribune. Read about dozens of inspirational stories about interesting community members, leaders in faith, rising sports stars, businesses that rock, your amazing neighbors, education standouts, and your all-around heroes in the Sunday Tribune.