Jersey Man Tried To Pass Counterfeit Money In Newtown: Police

NEWTOWN, CT — Police have charged a New Jersey man with forgery after they say he attempted to purchase items in Newtown stores with counterfeit money.

Workers at Big Y Supermarket and Caraluzzi's Newtown Market called the Newtown Police Department with reports that a man had tried to use counterfeit $100.00 bills in an attempt to purchase low price items. They provided the police with a description of the suspect and of his get-away vehicle, which was parked unoccupied at 75 Church Hill Road.

On Apr. 27, police apprehended a man matching the description of the suspect when he was walking out of the AT&T Store. Police report that the suspect, Alex Burnett-Deroche, 32, of Lembeck Avenue in Jersey City, presented them with a fraudulent NY identification card.

Police took Burnett-Deroche to the Newtown Police Headquarters, where they learned he had a re-arrest warrant dating back to 2019 from the Westport Police Department.

Burnett-Deroche was charged with two counts of first-degree forgery, two counts of sixth-degree criminal attempt/larceny, criminal impersonation, sixth-degree larceny and interfering with an officer/resisting arrest. He was held on a $25,000 bond for the counterfeiting-related charges, and a $15,000 bond for the re-arrest warrant, and scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court the next day.

Police are asking residents to bring any $100 bills with the serial number B46637239A to the Newtown Police Department.