PA Target, Kohl's, Lowe's And Other Stores Counterfeit Cash Scheme: 4 Charged

PENNSYLVANIA — Four New York men have been charged after allegedly using counterfeit cash in a scheme involving merchandise returns at various stores in 16 Pennsylvania counties.

The suspects targeted Kohl's, Target, Home Depot, Lowe's, and other retailers for thefts that involved payment with fake cash for items that subsequently were returned for real money. More than $20,000 in purchases or attempted purchases were made.

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The four-man group is suspected of similar crimes in several other states.

In Pennsylvania, they frequented stores in Allegheny, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Centre, Chester, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton and York counties.

"This out-of-state band of thieves knowingly passed fake bills with a plan to return items for real cash — that is organized retail theft, pure and simple," Pennsylvania Attorney General Sunday said in a statement.

The New York men — Fitzroy James, Fabian Coke, Gabriel Young, and Christopher Nicholas — are charged with felony counts of organized retail theft, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, conspiracy and related offenses.

Attempts to take the men into custody are ongoing.