Counterfeit bills on rise in El Dorado County; One arrest made

Several counterfeit bills have been used for transactions on the west slope of El Dorado County, even days after the arrest of one suspect. On May 8, the Sheriff Deputies were called to the Round Table Restaurant in Pollock Pines after a man tried to buy food with a counterfeit $100 bill. He and a woman left before deputies arrived but a description of the pair and their vehicle was provided to EDCSO.

Deputy Jeff Tucker assisted by Deputy Tim Peterson located and stopped a vehicle matching the description near Green Valley Road and Mallard Lane in Placerville. They arrested the passenger in the vehicle, 30 year-old Marcus Rodriguez of West Sacramento. The female driver, 23 year-old Shayla Godsey of the Shingle Springs Rancheria, was cited for driving with a suspended driver’s license. According to law enforcement, Rodrigues is also a suspect in similar activities in Washoe County, Nevada.

It is unknown at this time what charges Rodrigues faces and what his bail was as there is no inmate in the county jail by that name.

Here is a timeline of the case:

April 7, 2015 at 7:00 a.m. - El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office took a report from Safeway off Missouri Flat Road where a Hispanic male adult attempted to make a purchase using a fake $100 bill. The suspect left the store and got into a silver SUV being driven by a female. The male was described as being in his late 20’s wearing a dark blue sweater and black pants.

April 28, 2015 at 12:25 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to the Sizzler Restaurant in Cameron Park regarding a counterfeit $100 bill. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male adult, in his late 20’s, 6’ tall, with a heavy build last seen walking towards Safeway. He appeared to the same suspect that used a phony $100 bill the week prior at the same restaurant.

May 8, 2015 at 3:37 p.m. - The Sheriff’s Office responded to the Round Table Pizza on Missouri Flat Road regarding counterfeit money. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male adult accompanied by a Hispanic female adult driving a green BMW. The male reportedly tried to use a fake $100 to buy food.

May 9, 2015 at 5:15 p.m. - Someone used a counterfeit $100 bill to purchase clothing at Snowline Hospice in Cameron Park. The suspects were a male and female who were shopping together. The male was described as a Hispanic male adult, 25 years old, 6’01”, weighing about 200 pounds. The female was described as a Hispanic adult, 25 years old, about 5’04” tall, weighing about 125 pounds. No vehicle seen.

May 12, 2015 at 2:40 p.m. - A Hispanic male adult attempted to pass a $20 bill at the 76 gas station on South Shingle Road. The suspect was driving an older blue Nissan Pickup Truck with a lumber rack. The male was described as being in his mid-20s, 5’ 5” tall, about 130 pounds, wearing a black hat, a black t-shirt, and jeans.

May 15, 2015 - A counterfeit $100 bill was located by Revenue and Recovery in Shingle Springs. The business received the fake bill through a customer transaction who reportedly got it from Walmart in Folsom when cashing a Social Security check. There is no suspect information.

May 17, 2015 at 4:15 p.m. - Safeway in Pollock Pines reported receiving a counterfeit $20 bill. The bill was located in one of their cash registers. There was no suspect information.

These cases may or may not be related according to Lt. Tom Murdoch of the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department. There has been an increase in the use of counterfeit money in El Dorado County. Businesses are encouraged to check all cash received to ensure it is genuine before completing a transaction. If any suspicious currency is received, please keep the bill and call 911.

If the person leaves, make note of the person(s) description, what they are driving, license plate number, and direction of travel. If anyone has information on any previous case, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at (530) 621-5655 or email us at EDSO.org.