Stolen printer used for counterfeiting: police
Hamilton police say a highquality printer stolen from Mohawk College was being used in a counterfeit document operation.
The printer was stolen Nov. 21 Images of the theft suspects were captured on surveillance gear and shared through media.
They allegedly posed as repairmen to gain access to the printer inside the Stoney Creek campus at 481 Barton St.
The alleged suspects were identified. Police say 31-year-old James Juodirsis and 27-year-old Phillip Williamson, both of Hamilton, are each facing a charge of theft over $5,000.
But the printer, which was used at the college for printing student identification cards, was still missing at the time, said Det. Const. Phil Poirier.
Then on Jan. 20 police were called on an unrelated matter to a Hamilton residence — where officers allegedly found the printer and a number of fraudulent documents. Two other individuals were arrested at that address.
It’s alleged the printer was being used to print fraudulent driver’s licence cards, health cards, birth certificates, social insurance cards, credit cards and counterfeit currency.
Poirier said it’s unclear what the documents were being used for, but they had a number of different names. It does not appear the documents were being sold, but rather had some personal use for those involved in the alleged operation.
Cassandra Jordan, 33, and Morgan Richardson, 29, both from Hamilton are facing these charges: Make counterfeit marks, possess counterfeit marks, possess instruments for forgery, identity theft documents, possess credit card data, make counterfeit money, possess counterfeit money and possess counterfeit instruments.
Poirier said he believes more people were involved in the operation, which appears to have started around the time of the printer theft.
The printer has been returned to Mohawk College.