Shoppers ‘steal $3,000 worth of merchandise from Walmart and CVS’ – but a ‘sneaky trick’ was discovered at Dollar Tree

SHOPPERS stole nearly $3,000 worth of merchandise from Walmart and CVS using a sneaky ruse reported by Dollar Tree employees, police said.

Brandon Williams, 35, and an unidentified woman allegedly bought hundreds of products from stores across Pennsylvania using counterfeit money.

2

2

The New Jersey native was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pennsylvania’s Middle Circuit on May 16, officials said in a news release.

He and his alleged accomplice reportedly entered a Micheals store in Dickson City on April 20 and spent a whopping $1,400 on items.

According to authorities, the couple then paid for their goods with counterfeit $50 bills.

Hours later, they allegedly deceived employees at a CVS pharmacy in Scranton by handing over $750 in counterfeit money.

Court records show that three days later, Williams of Mercer County traveled to Mountoursville to try his luck at a Walmart.

It is alleged that he used counterfeit $20 bills to buy $280 worth of products and then spent $160 worth of counterfeit money at a Weis market.

They then attempted to target a Dollar Tree store in Bloomsburg during the alleged shopping frenzy on April 23.

But her elaborate ruse was reportedly scolded by a perspicacious employee who had raised concerns about the questionable notes.

In total, the couple is said to have bought $2,600 worth of products using counterfeit money.

Williams was arrested and charged with one count of conspiracy to enforce counterfeiting, four counts of enforcing counterfeiting and one count of attempting to enforce counterfeiting.

If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for each charge.

Authorities said he would also be fined if detained and would be released under supervision after his detention.

The fate of the unknown woman was not reported.

The investigation into the counterfeit cash was coordinated by the US Secret Service, the Dickson City Police Department, the Scranton Police Department, the Montoursville Police Department and the Hemlock Township Police Department, federal officials said.