CLARION BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – A Clarion man accused of passing two counterfeit $100 bills is facing a number of charges after police also discovered marijuana and paraphernalia in his residence.
According to court documents, the Clarion Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 21-year-old Rayshon Lamont Faulk, of Clarion.
According to a criminal complaint, around 1:16 a.m. on March 31, Officer Maxwell, of the Clarion Borough Police Department, was dispatched to the residence of a known victim who reported counterfeit money use.
The victim allegedly reported that Rayshon Faulk arrived at his residence around 12:30 a.m. that day and asked him for change, stating that he had to pay his rent and his landlord would not take $100 bills. The victim agreed to give Faulk ten $20 bills in exchange for two $100 bills. Faulk then left in an SUV. The victim then looked closer at the $100 bills that Faulk had given him and realized they were fake.
The victim gave the bills to Officer Maxwell who could clearly see they were counterfeit.
The complaint notes that Officers Maxwell and Fox saw Faulk earlier that night going into a house on Frampton Street. They returned to the house and knocked and a known individual opened the door.
According to the complaint, when the officers asked if Faulk was there, the individual initially said “no,” but then admitted that he was. Faulk then went to the door, the officers asked permission to enter, and he invited them inside.
Officer Maxwell asked Faulk if he had been involved in a transaction involving two $100 bills.
According to the complaint, Faulk was initially evasive; however, after Officer Maxwell stated he already knew what was going on and asked why he passed off fake bills, Faulk allegedly admitted that he went to the victim’s residence and exchanged two $100 bills for ten $20 bills. He allegedly said that he knew the $100 bills were counterfeit and claimed he was scammed with the bills in New Jersey, so he was trying to exchange them for real bills.
Officer Maxwell then asked Faulk about the money he received from the victim, and Faulk stated it was upstairs in his bedroom and was willing to go upstairs and get it. The officers accompanied Faulk upstairs and noted a strong odor of marijuana coming from the bedroom and observed marijuana “shake” on the one stand in the room. Faulk then exited the bedroom and handed Officer Maxwell a fold of money, containing over $400, according to the complaint.
The complaint states that when Officer Maxwell asked Faulk why the room smelled so strongly of marijuana, Faulk initially said his landlord, who also lives in the house, might have some. Officer Maxwell then asked Faulk to knock on his landlord’s bedroom door. The landlord answered and exited the room, then Officer Maxwell sent all of the individuals downstairs and advised Faulk that he had probable cause to apply for a search warrant for the residence and asked if he would provide consent. Faulk and the landlord both consented to a search and signed consent to search forms.
Officer Fox contacted Clarion University Police Department and had them send an officer to watch the occupants during the search.
According to the complaint, the following items were found in the room that Faulk stated was his:
- a clear glass water bong with marijuana residue,
- five lighters,
- three marijuana grinders,
- a vape cartridge containing THC,
- a marijuana rolling tray with shake,
- several packages of RAW wrappers and a roller,
- a multicolored silicon covered pipe with marijuana residue,
- a black digital scale,
- a package of small clear baggies used for packaging drugs for sale,
- three plastic baggies with marijuana residue,
- a Ziplock baggie containing pieces of green marijuana bud, and
- three packages of Pink Diva blunts.
All of the items were seized as evidence, along with the money from Faulk.
The complaint notes that Faulk stated the items were his.
Based on the investigation, Faulk was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey C. Miller at 2:25 a.m. on Monday, May 13, on the following charges:
- Forgery – Utters Forged Writing, Felony 2
- Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony
- Theft By Deception-False Impression, Misdemeanor 1
- Receiving Stolen Property, Misdemeanor 1
- Possession Of Marijuana, Misdemeanor
- Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor
Unable to post $25,000.00 monetary bail, he was lodged in the Clarion County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, May 28, with Magisterial District Judge Duane L. Quinn presiding.
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