TEMPE, AZ — Police have made an arrest after allegedly finding equipment to make counterfeit bills inside a Tempe apartment.
Tempe police report that on December 8, they responded to Hurts Donuts near Price Road and University Drive for an attempted purchase using counterfeit money.
Police say Albert Martin Acosta, 50, attempted to buy a box of donuts using a fake $100 bill. When an employee had suspicions about the bill and contacted a manager, Acosta left the shop. The shop manager was able to get a license plate number to the car Acosta used.
When police questioned Acosta, he allegedly admitted to being at the donut shop and using the $100 bill but said he received the bill as payment for some artwork that he sold.
Another person that was with Acosta at the time reportedly told police that Acosta produces fake money using select chemicals and a printer. When police searched his apartment, they found $1 bills, chemicals, laptop computers, printers, and other equipment used to make counterfeit money, according to court records.
Police say Acosta has had numerous contacts with police in Gilbert, Chandler, and Phoenix for using fake $100 bills at various businesses.
He has been charged with multiple counts of forgery, fraud, and possession of forgery devices.
