2 Charged After Counterfeit Money Used To Buy Goods: West Hartford PD

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Local police Tuesday announced the arrest of two men in connection with multiple forgery and counterfeit currency charges after they were seen leaving a local mall with illegally purchased merchandise on Saturday.

According to the West Hartford Police Department, the following men were charged:

• Dezmond A. Bonds, 31, of Manchester was charged with one count of first-degree forgery; one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree forgery; one count of interfering with a police officer; one count of fourth-degree larceny; and one count of conspiracy to commit fourth degree larceny.

Police said Bonds was also wanted on 21 separate arrest warrants from Connecticut and Massachusetts police agencies.

Because Bonds was also charged in connection with possible counterfeit currency, the WHPD said the U.S. Secret Service's New York field office was notified.

• Rondell A. Jackson, 36, of Middletown, was charged with one count of first-degree forgery; one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree forgery; one count of conspiracy to commit fourth-degree larceny; and one count of conspiracy to commit fourth-degree larceny.

The WHPD did not have any bond or court information for both suspects.

West Hartford police said that, at about 8:05 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, WHPD officers learned a vehicle wanted in connection with several crimes in Connecticut and Massachusetts was left unoccupied in the lower-level parking lot at Macy's at the Westfarms Mall in West Hartford/Farmington.

"The individual believed to be operating that vehicle was suspected of criminal activity in West Hartford both earlier in the day and months prior," the WHPD wrote Tuesday. "Patrol units set up surveillance and watched the suspect exit the mall with another individual.

"The second individual was immediately detained, while the initial suspect engaged officers in a brief foot pursuit before apprehension."

Police said officers seized on the scene about $1,702 in fraudulently purchased mall merchandise and about $1,900 worth of counterfeit currency.

They also seized so-called "Green Dot" cards purchased with alleged funny money.

The WHPD offered some advice to area business owners regarding fake currency.

"We would also like to remind our business partners to familiarize themselves with how to identify counterfeit currency to avoid becoming victims of fraud," police said.

Anyone with information about this incident or other, similar, incidents is asked to call the WHPD via the department's tip line/email at 860-570-8969 and/or whpdtips@westhartford.gov.