Counterfeit Incident At Tolland Store Leads To Warrant

TOLLAND, CT — A Hartford man is being held on a $50,000 bond after he tried to pass counterfeit bills at the Tolland Big Y supermarket, according to an arrest report.

Lorenzo Lashawn Thornton, 29, is scheduled for a remote hearing in the case via Rockville Superior Court on April 16, according to judicial system records. Thornton has been charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree forgery. He was served with a warrant on March 12.

According to the warrant, on April 29, 2023, a man wearing a camouflage jacket and pants walked into the Tolland Big Y and attempted to purchase a gift card. Store policy is that customers must have a Big Y membership card to make such purchases.

Thornton used the name "John Butler," along with a fake birthdate and Norwalk address, according to the warrant.

He then tried to make the purchase with two $50 bills that a clerk immediately knew to be counterfeit, according to the warrant. The bills had the same serial numbers and identifying markers were absent and they were rejected by the screening device located under the customer service desk, according to the warrant.

Thornton left the store in a Huff, saying "I guess someone is really playing with me," and left in a silver Hyundai, according to a warrant.

State police trades the incident back to Thornton, according to the warrant.