Children were used by adults in a scheme to pass counterfeit money in Central Florida, according to the Sheriff’s office.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies began investigating reports of counterfeit bills being passed at two local businesses in the same shopping plaza in south Lakeland. The suspect was witnessed leaving as a passenger in a gray Kia SUV.
A detective determined that the suspect was 32-year-old Jean Armand, of Tampa. Armand was arrested and interviewed by a detective. He claimed that he must have gotten the counterfeit bills from his friends in Mulberry. Those friends were identified as 25-year-old Quinece Staton-Langley and 24-year-old Beyonce Bettyce Staton.
According to local law enforcement, the gray Kia SUV was located at US 98 and Lyle Parkway in Bartow, and a traffic stop was conducted on it. Inside of the Kia were Beyonce and Quinece, as well as two children.
PCSO said that one of the children was in possession of a counterfeit $20 bill and a receipt for a Mulberry Taco Bell from earlier that day. Beyonce was in possession of $400 in currency (ones, fives, and tens), while Quinece had $100 on her (ones, fives, and tens).
The investigation found that counterfeit $20 bills were used by a child at a Dollar General store earlier that morning, and the child with Beyonce and Quinece matched the description.
A deputy visited the the Mulberry Taco Bell and discovered that the same child used a counterfeit $20 bill there to make a small purchase, and received change.
The same child also made a small purchase that same morning at a nearby pizza restaurant using a fake $20 bill, and received change there as well.
According to law enforcement, during an interview, the child said that Beyonce and Quinece gave the children the $20 bills, and instructed them to go into stores and buy something, then bring the change back to them.
Beyonce and Quinece both denied the allegations against them, and claimed that they visited the multiple businesses looking for employment.
Beyonce Staton and Quinece Staton-Langley were arrested, and both were charged with: Scheme to Defraud, Petit Theft, Uttering Forged Bills, Conspiracy to Commit Fraud, and Contributing to the Dequincy of a Minor. Jean Armand was charged with: Scheme to Defraud, Petit Theft, and Uttering Forged Bills. He was also being held on a Hillsborough County warrant for FTA Operating an Unregistered Vehicle and FTA for Driving without a License.
that freak on the left is good as the target for ring toss!!