Photo for illustrative purposes.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – Authorities have forwarded charges of forgery against a Thatcher woman who allegedly used counterfeit $100 and $20 bills to pay for items at a restaurant and gas station.
Janet Flores, 42, is accused of using a counterfeit $100 bill to pay for food from Domino’s Pizza and using a counterfeit $20 bill at a Circle K.
According to Safford Police reports, officers were initially dispatched at about 10:27 p.m. on March 12 to the Circle K at 1382 S. 1st Ave. in Safford regarding fraud. At that time, an employee told the officer that a subject had used a counterfeit $20 bill which was accepted, and then the subject’s mother attempted to use another counterfeit $20 roughly half an hour later. That attempt was not accepted, and the authorities were notified.
Officers identified the subject as Flores, but an attempt to locate her was not fruitful. However, it would not be long before officers were called back to Flores’ way again.
On March 15, an officer was dispatched at about 11:43 p.m. to the Domino’s Pizza at 410 W. 5th St. in Safford regarding counterfeit money.
Upon arrival, store representatives informed the officer that a subject (later identified as Flores) had paid for pizza delivery with a counterfeit $100 bill and was given $62.80 in change.
After identifying Flores as the suspect, the officer attempted to locate her again without success. Then, on March 17, an officer responded to the residence where the pizza was delivered and made contact with Flores.
At that time, Flores denied knowing the $20 bills she and her mom had used at the gas station were fake. Flores was advised that forgery charges for the fake $100 and $20 bills were going to be forwarded to the Graham County Attorney’s Office for review and formal charging.
