Second Suspect in Walmart Fake-Money Scam Arrested

BUFORD, GA — A second suspect was arrested Thursday for a scam in which fake money designed to be used in movies was passed off as real at a Buford Walmart.

Melissa Sinquefield, 30, of Buford, was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday, according to the Gwinnett County Police Department.

Jocelyn Gerstenlauer, 19, of Auburn, who was a cashier at Walmart on the day of the forgery, had turned herself in on Tuesday. She has since bonded out of jail.

Travis B. Taylor, 36, of Blakely, whom police have named as the third suspect in the case, remained at large Thursday afternoon.

The incident happened July 19 at the Walmart at 3250 Sardis Church Rd. in Buford, according to Gwinnett County Police.

A couple used phony $100 bills, which were marked with the words "For Motion Picture Use Only," to buy $1,000 worth of lawn equipment, police say.

The woman later returned some of that equipment for a cash refund at a different Walmart.

According to police, as Taylor was loading up a shopping cart, Sinquefield approached Gerstenlauer at her register, confronting her about money she claimed she was owed by the cashier.

Sinquefield then went to her vehicle and Taylor came to Gerstenlauer's register, paying for the lawn equipment with the phony money, which was apparently created as a prop for a movie or television show.

Police say Gerstenlauer never returned to work after the fake bills were discovered in her register.

Since the Walmart incident, Gwinnett police say fake movie money was used in another pair of crimes.

The phony $100 bills, marked with the words "For Motion Picture Use Only," were used to buy two used cars via a mobile app in Loganville and Lawrenceville, according to police.

Photos via Gwinnett County Police Department