Three women were arrested after they allegedly conspired to use counterfeit $100 bills at an estimated 10 stores in the State College area.
State College police said an employee at Autozone, 2605 E. College Ave., reported on Thursday that a female, later identified as Nahciera Marshall entered the store and asked where she could find fitted seat covers. Another employee told the first that the woman might have previously paid for items at the store with a counterfeit $100 bill.
Marshall, 19, of Wilkes-Barre, attempted to pay for a pair of seat covers with a $100 bill, according to a criminal complaint. Police said the employee discreetly checked the bill with a counterfeit marker and when he said he first had to go to the rear of the store, Marshall fled and left the bill on the counter.
Police confirmed the bill left behind had the same serial number as a counterfeit bill used at another incident.
Patton Township police stopped a suspect vehicle and the Autozone employee was taken to the scene, where police said he identified Marshall as the woman who attempted to use a counterfeit bill.
Also in the car were the driver, Samantha Kalson, 28, of Wilkes-Barre, and Markeesa Coleman, 25, of Irvington, N.J., according to the complaint. Police said a book inside the car contained counterfeit $100 bills and receipts from 10 State College area stores.
Kalson allegedly would provide the counterfeit bills to the other women and wait in the car while they made purchases. Police said Coleman was identified as having used counterfeit bills to make a purchase and receive change at Ross Dress for Less, 310 Benner Pike.
Kalson is charged with 10 felony counts of conspiracy to commit forgery and 10 misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit theft by deception. Marshall and Coleman are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit forgery and conspiracy to commit theft by deception.
All three were denied bail by District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker. According to court dockets, Kalson has no ties to the area and Marshall and Coleman are both out on bail for similar charges in another county. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Wednesday.
