Men charged for passing counterfeit bill at convenience store

Lewisburg, Pa. — Two men were charged with forgery after they passed a $100 counterfeit bill at a Lewisburg convenience store.

Police were called on April 6 to Firefly Convenient Store on Market Street in Lewisburg for a report that a customer used a $100 bill that turned out to be "play money." Patrolman Zachary Mosso of Buffalo Valley Regional Police Department spoke with the store owner who showed him the bill that said "Play Money" and "United States play money" on both sides, according to the criminal complaint.

The owner told them that a regular customer, Shannan Eric Smith, 47, of Milton, came into the store on April 5 and used the counterfeit bill to pay for items. The clerk gave Smith his change and he then "tipped" her $10, Mosso wrote in the complaint. Smith then handed one of the purchased items worth $7.50 to a friend who was with him, Donyae Jarmon Austin, 22, of Williamsport.

A day later, Mosso tracked Smith and Austin down as they were walking at the 300 block of Market Street. Mosso questioned Smith, who admitted he knowingly gave the convenience store clerk a fake $100 bill. Smith stated he and Austin spent $20 to get $80 back and then used the money to buy food and cigarettes, according to the complaint.

Smith gave police a written confession and said he would pay the money back.

Police charged Smith and Austin with felony counts of forgery, misdemeanors of theft, receiving stolen property, and retail theft summaries. Both men will have a preliminary hearing on May 23 at the office of District Judge Jeffrey A. Rowe.

Docket Sheet Shannan Smith

Docket Sheet Donyae Austin