Lake Forest Detective Helps Unravel Counterfeit Operation: Police

LAKE FOREST, IL — Police said a Chicago man arrested last month was involved in a counterfeiting operation that used fake $100 bills with the same serial number hundreds of times around the north suburbs and across several states. He has been ordered held with no bail in Cook County, where he also faces charges of being a repeat gun offender and a drug dealer.

Reginald Tate, 34, of the 7600 block of South Phillips Avenue, Chicago, was arrested March 19 following a search of his apartment by members of the Chicago Police Department, Lake Forest detectives, K9 units and federal agents from the U.S. Secret Service and an FBI Joint Gang Task Force, according to police reports.

Officers found a loaded gun with a defaced serial number, about 77 grams of marijuana and various narcotics packaging, according to police reports. Police reported Tate is an admitted gang member with multiple felonies on his record, including convictions for aggravated robbery, gun offenses and presenting a fake ID.

While executing the warrant, police also found numerous counterfeit bills, an original $100 bill, a printer and other manufacturing supplies, according to Lake Forest Police Deputy Chief Rob Copeland, who explained Det. Andy Shiu had been investigating since the counterfeit bills began turning up at local businesses. The Secret Service and other local jurisdictions joined he investigation as the bills showed up in other areas.

"Our detective was the first one to be able to develop enough to find some suspects," Copeland said. The counterfeit bills showed up all over the Chicagoland area and in multiple states, he said. "They passed one of the bills almost a thousand times — the same serial number."

Eight days before the search warrant was executed at his South Shore apartment, Chicago police reported arresting Tate following an illegal U-turn at a gas station in the 2200 block of East 67th Street. Officers learned he was required to register annually due to a previous firearms conviction. Police also said he did not have a valid license or proof of insurance. Upon taking him into custody that night, Chicago police found a pair of counterfeit $100 bills and notified Secret Service, but Shiu, the Lake Forest detective, was already on the case and had identified Tate as a suspect, police said.

After prosecutors approved charges of armed habitual criminal and the manufacture or delivery of cannabis, a Cook County judge ordered Tate jailed without bond ahead of his next court appearance, which is scheduled for April 9.