Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Two Ellicottville Central School students are accused of making counterfeit $20 bills and using them to pay for their school lunches. Troy Studd and Matt Tagliarino, both of West Valley, are also accused of passing the bills at a number of area businesses. An investigation by state police and the Secret Service found that the boys made the $20 bills at Studd's home using computer equipment. Studd and Tagliarino were arraigned in the Town of Lyndon Court and released to their parents pending later court dates.

Police in Chautauqua and Warren counties think they may have broken up a counterfeit money operation in Jamestown. Police agencies in both counties say they’ve received several complaints over the past 10 days about fake bills turning up at businesses. Their investigation led to a Jamestown house, where a raid turned up manufacturing equipment and some counterfeit bills. Police didn’t release the names of any people targeted in their investigation, but they did release serial numbers appearing on the counterfeit money. The fake $5 bills have the numbers: FD 65527493 A FE 17699851 A The phony $20 bills have the numbers IF 92090433 D EB 10418758 J GB 50836424 B EC 49229312 B EB 79170795 D EB 51782858 H GK 56357942 C EL 12596858 B IC 27585654 B GL 38405448 A IL 10600749 D GJ 80767905 A IH 42196858 A IK 32977314 B IL 46052947 B Anyone who has a bill with one of these serial numbers should contact local police or the Secret Service.