Mike on Crime

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

SURREY, B.C. – An escapee from Bowden prison in Alberta now faces charges in Surrey, B.C., over allegations he was passing out fake American money.

Nathan Paolinelli escaped Nov. 16, last year and a month later a man with a similar description was seen using counterfeit American cash in a Kelowna, B.C., store.

That brought the man to the attention of the Federal Integrated Counterfeit Enforcement Team, who followed him to Surrey and began surveillance.

Paolinelli and his girlfriend Stacey Scharf were arrested last week as they were about to make a purchase in a store.

Mounties say when they searched the couple’s apartment they found over $75,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency, crystal methamphetamine, three forged postal keys, a large number of stolen ID cards, forged credit cards and specialized paper and printers.

Police say both people face counterfeiting-related charges, with other charges pending.