LETHBRIDGE – A man and woman have been charged after allegedly passing counterfeit U.S. currency in numerous Lethbridge businesses.
Twenty-six-year old Black Diamond resident Kyle Gordon Schmidt and 34-year-old Andrea Beth Gill, of Stony Plain, each face five counts, including uttering counterfeit currency and possession of the proceeds of crime.
According to Lethbridge Regional Police, between Dec. 7 and Dec. 9, Schmidt and Gill used counterfeit USD$100 bills to pay for transactions at multiple businesses, including retail stores and motels.
On Dec. 9, a clerk at a northside clothing store alerted police when Gill allegedly tried paying for merchandise with one of the fake bills. The clerk recognized the bill, as Schmidt had allegedly victimized the same store the previous day.
Shortly after police were alerted, Schmidt was taken into custody in the Sobey’s parking lot on Bluefox Boulevard North. A subsequent search turned up more of the counterfeit USD$100 bills and a small amount of methamphetamine. Gill was located and arrested moments later in the northside Walmart store.
The investigation isn’t limited to Lethbridge. Police are working with other agencies, including Edmonton police and RCMP detachments, where Schmidt and Gail are alleged to have used the counterfeit bills. More charges are expected to be filed in those other jurisdictions.
Schmidt and Gill have been remanded in custody to appear in Lethbridge court Dec. 11.
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