Elyria woman accused of using fake bills

A 23-year-old Elyria woman is facing charges of passing counterfeit bills during a private sale.

A 23-year-old Elyria woman is facing charges of passing counterfeit bills during a private sale involving a video game system, according to a police report. Tamere A. Jones was charged with a felony count of counterfeiting and a misdemeanor count of theft by deception. At 2:20 p.m., Feb. 14, Elyria police were called to Abbe Road and Antioch Drive for a possible robbery. The victim told police he met with Jones to sell his Xbox One for $200, the report said. During the exchange, the victim stated he presented Jones with the Xbox and Jones “grabbed” it, “pushed” the money at the victim, quickly went to her blue Chevrolet Cavalier with no license plate and “peeled out,” according to the report. The victim counted the money and observed the 10 $20 bills were counterfeit, with “toy money” on the front and “copy money” printed on the back of the bills, the report said. The victim then followed Jones. A short time later, an officer stopped Jones’ car in the 200 block of Naples Drive because it matched the description of the robbery suspect vehicle. The victim on scene told police that Jones handed him the fake money. Officers arrested Jones, and she told them that she bought the bills on Amazon, according to the report. Police searched Jones car and found $440 in counterfeit $20 bills, the report said. Officers went to Jones’ apartment and a family member turned over the remainder of the fake money totaling close to $6,000. Jones did not say how much she paid for the counterfeit bills. Jones, who was taken to the Lorain County Jail, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. Feb. 28 in Elyria Municipal Court.

Jones