Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Arrests Counterfeiters

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office arrested four members of a suspected counterfeit crew who allegedly victimized at least six businesses in the Solvang and Santa Maria areas.

Those arrested include 40-year-old Tanya Lee Rose of Bakersfield, 42-year-old Melissa Jones of Bakersfield, 48-year-old Doreen Rowland of Bakersfield and 40-year-old Thomas Berchtold of San Luis Obispo who is formerly from Bakersfield.

On September 30 around 5:45 p.m., sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of Copenhagen and First Street in the City of Solvang to a report of several subjects attempting to pass counterfeit $100 bills.

Several business owners who were victimized by the alleged group of counterfeiters assisted the Sheriff’s Office with information that led to the location of the suspects inside a parked vehicle.

All four were arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of multiple counterfeit $100 bills. They were also in possession of numerous “washed” bills and other materials which could have been used to counterfeit more bills. They were booked on an additional charge of conspiracy to commit a felony.

Due to the sophistication of the counterfeit bills, Sheriff’s deputies notified the United States Secret Service which is now conducting its own investigation.

The Sheriff’s Office said it commends the Solvang business owners who reported the incident right away and assisted deputies with locating the suspects before they were able to get away.

Santa Maria businesses may also have been targeted.