At least six West Hartford businesses were victimized by the counterfeiters, police said.
By Ronni Newton
Two brothers from Hartford, a man from Brooklyn, and a juvenile have been charged by West Hartford Police after passing counterfeit bills at numerous businesses Sunday.
Police said they were called to La Petite France Bakery on Farmington Avenue shortly before 2 p.m. on a report that a customer had used a fake $100 bill. According to police, within 20 minutes similar reports were made by two other establishments in the same area – Ben & Jerry’s and Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery.
Police said that employees at all three stores provided similar descriptions of the primary suspect as a black male with dreadlocks wearing blue shorts. One employee managed to take a photograph of the suspect getting into a vehicle.
Based on the photograph police said they quickly located the vehicle, which was occupied by four people. When they stopped the car they found several items in plain view that were believed to have been purchased with the counterfeit money, according to an incident report.
The vehicle’s front seat passenger was identified by witnesses as the intial male suspect, and the other occupants of the vehicle were also recognized by witnesses, police said.
An initial investigation by police determined that six businesses were victimized during this counterfeit spree.
Police said they found and seized various low cost items from the suspects’ vehicle, believed to have been purchased with counterfeit money in order to obtain legitimate bills as change. Police also seized multiple bills of varying denominations that are believed to be counterfeit.
Shawn Michael Hayle, 21, of Hartford, has been charged with 10 counts of forgery, 10 counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree forgery, one count of fifth-degree larceny, and one count of conspiracy to commit fifth-degree larceny. He is being held on $100,000 surety bond.
His brother Jason Hayle, 20, of Hartford has been charged with six counts of conspiracy to commmit first degree-forgery and one count of conspiracy to commit fifth-degree larceny. He is being held on $75,000 surety bond.
Andrew Darien McLeod, 20, of Brooklyn, NY, was charged with six counts of first-degree forgery, six counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree forgery, one count of fifth-degree larceny, one count of conspiracy to commit fifth-degree larceny, and interfering with an officer. McLeod was also charged as a fugitive from justice based on an outstanding warrant from another state, police said. He is being held on $100,000 surety bond.
Information about the juvenile is not available.
According to West Hartford Police Sgt. Samuel Ferrucci, the investigation is ongoing. Police are following up with other area businesses to determine whether other stores were victimized.
Police also said that the U.S. Secret Service, which is responsible for maintaining the integrity of U.S. currency and suppressing counterfeiting, will be notified of the situation.
Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford!
Andrew McLeod. Courtesy of West Hartford Police
Shawn Michael Hayle. Courtesy of West Hartford Police
Jason Hayle. Courtesy of West Hartford Police
