2 Arrested After Passing Counterfeit Bills In New Britain: Police

NEW BRITAIN BOROUGH, PA — A New Jersey man and a New York man face multiple charges after police said they passed counterfeit bills at several businesses in New Britain Borough.

On Dec. 5, the Central Bucks Regional Police Department arrested 30-year-old Joel Felix
Gonzales-Maldini, of Patterson, N.J., and 29-year-old Borris Alberto Ibarra-Riojas, of Newburgh, N.Y., and charged them with two counts of forgery, receiving stolen property, theft by deception, evading arrest, and retail theft.

Police said Gonzales-Maldini and Ibarra-Riojas, along with two others, entered Nico’s Pizza in New Britain Borough on Dec. 5 and purchased food using two counterfeit $100 bills. The two men then left the establishment with the others and entered several other stores to pass counterfeit bills.

Police attempted to stop one of the vehicles after Gonzales-Maldini and Ibarra-Riojas exited the vehicle and fled on foot. K9 Granite was deployed, tracking the suspects behind the Town Center and then onto W. Butler Avenue.

Gonzales-Maldini and Ibarra-Riojas were found dining at the New Britain Inn, where they were positively identified and taken into custody.

Both were arraigned, bail set at 10 percent $1,000,000, and were remanded to Bucks County Prison. Additionally, a detainer was placed on Gonzales-Maldini on an arrest warrant out of Connecticut.