Crime & Safety

2 Arrested in $2 Million Counterfeit Scam

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office and US Secret Service arrested and charged a Woodstock and France man in a joint undercover investigation.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office and United States Secret Service charged two men with conspiracy to commit theft and violation of the Georgia RICO Act yesterday.

Bidas Tsombeng, also known as Simon Makoko, 36, of Woodstock, and Dany Thelineau, 31, of France were arrested near Bells Ferry and Highway 92 after an undercover meeting by a joint investigation by the offices.

A local business owner, who remains anonymous because of security, reported to the Sheriff's Office two weeks ago that the suspects approached him about laundering approximately $2 million in counterfeit money in exchange for U.S. currency at 50 cents per dollar, said Sheriff's Office Lt. Jay Baker.

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The monitored undercover meeting yesterday revealed the suspects were planning to give the business owner white paper in exchange for the U.S. currency. The white paper transforms into high quality counterfeit cash when treated with certain chemicals, Baker said.

After, $20,000 in U.S. currency was found in the suspects' vehicle.

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Both suspects remain in custody at the Cherokee Adult Detention Center. The suspects' bonds have been set at $66,400.Β 

Immigration and Customs EnforcementΒ placed a hold on Thelineau.ο»Ώ


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