Greenwich Man Is Accused of Paying Restaurant Tab with Counterfeit Cash

A Greenwich man is facing forgery and larceny charges for allegedly using counterfeit cash to pay for a restaurant tab.

The suspect is accused of paying the tab at a West Putnam Avenue restaurant with the fake money on Sunday afternoon and that the eatery’s management were able to provide Greenwich Police with his name and a description, according to a police report.

Police said in their report that officers found the suspect as he walked to his apartment.

Ahmed Raja Rajput, 18, of 30 Brookside Dr., admitted to police that “he received counterfeit bills, did go to the restaurant and did use the bills there,” according to the report.

Rajput was charged with first-degree forgery and sixth-degree larceny. He was held in lieu of $500 cash bond and scheduled to appear July 27 in state Superior Court in Stamford.

Police said the U.S. Secret Service is now involved in the investigation because it involved counterfeit currency.

Police spokesman Lt. Kraig Gray would not identify the restaurant where the incident occurred, how much currency and what denominations of currency were involved.

“The Secret Service will tell you that there are very few counterfeit bills in circulation. However, there are trends of some being passed in the New York region. Be wary of any large bill,” Gray said.

Photo: Ahmed Raja Rajput. Credit: Greenwich Police.