Reports of counterfeit $100 bills surfacing at the St. Helena post office ended with two people in handcuffs last Wednesday, according to St. Helena police. Officers stopped a vehicle in downtown that they believed was tied to the report and say they recovered counterfeit bills, money orders and receipts from inside the car.
Two suspects, 31-year-old Jermahl Mister of Fresno and 45-year-old Pauleen Pangatihon of Vallejo, were booked into Napa County Jail. Police say Mister was also booked on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Sgt. L. J. Montelli said the case has been turned over to U.S. Postal Inspectors for further review.
Tip At Post Office Sparked The Investigation
As reported by the Napa Valley Register, someone bought money orders at the St. Helena post office using what appeared to be counterfeit $100 bills. Flock license plate cameras later flagged a vehicle re-entering town that officers believed was connected to the transaction.
Police stopped that car in downtown St. Helena and arrested Mister and Pangatihon. Authorities say they found counterfeit currency, money orders and receipts in the vehicle, which investigators believe are part of a scheme to exchange money orders for cash at local businesses.
Postal Inspectors Step In On Fraud Angle
Because the alleged activity involved money orders and the postal system, St. Helena police handed the case off to federal postal investigators. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service routinely investigates schemes that use the mail to move counterfeit checks and money orders and also provides resources for merchants and victims.
For guidance on spotting bogus bills and the security features to check, many local businesses rely on information from the U.S. Secret Service, which outlines how to verify currency and what to do if a note looks suspicious.
Legal Implications
Passing counterfeit money and running related money order scams can trigger federal charges, and local officials say postal inspectors will decide whether to refer the case to federal prosecutors. Montelli said both suspects were booked into Napa County Jail and remain in custody while federal authorities review the case.
If charges are filed at the federal level, the U.S. Attorney's Office would typically handle prosecutions involving counterfeit currency and alleged mail-related fraud.
What Residents And Businesses Should Do
Anyone who thinks they have received a counterfeit bill or has information about this case is asked to keep the suspect note intact and contact the St. Helena Police Department's non-emergency line listed on the city website. The St. Helena Police Department page provides contact details.
The Postal Inspection Service also accepts online complaints related to mail fraud on its reporting site. Officials are asking anyone with surveillance video, receipts or other evidence connected to suspicious transactions to come forward to help investigators piece together the alleged scheme.
