Two men have been charged with fraud for making counterfeit money, Unalaska Department of Public Safety said.
Henry Zablan and Nicholas Hough were taken into police custody over the weekend and later charged with fraud.
Deputy Chief Jennifer Shockley says in her 16 years with the department this isn’t the first case of counterfeit money found in Unalaska.
“Typically nobody has any idea of where it came from,” Shockley said. “You know, somebody paid for something, the counterfeit bill got into circulation, somebody who’s familiar with checking security stuff recognizes it as counterfeit, and then we get told about it.”
Shockley said the police normally don’t have more information than that.
They’ll send the counterfeit bills to the U.S. Secret Service and that’s it.
But this time is different.
“Actually finding people, finding equipment being used for counterfeiting money right here in town is unusual for us,” she said.
Officers were tipped off about the alleged counterfeiting operation while investigating a burglary and theft.
Police found counterfeiting supplies as well as forged U.S. currency at Zablan’s residence.
The equipment police found is commonly available to the average citizen, Shockley said.
The investigation is ongoing.
Shockley said at least one more person of interest is sought in the case.
If anyone has counterfeit money in their possession, then she encourages them to bring it to the police station — especially if they know where it came from.
