The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office reports three men have been arrested for a multi-state counterfeit money ring.
Initially, the Sebastian Police Department received calls from Publix stores in Sebastian about a couple of men attempting to pass counterfeit $100 bills at their stores.
The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Sebastian Police Department, and U.S. Secret Service coordinated the arrests, recovering dozens of counterfeit bills, Methamphetamine, and other paraphernalia.
This investigation is still ongoing, as it was discovered these subjects have possibly victimized more than 150 businesses throughout Florida, Texas, and Louisiana.
Those arrested have been identified and charged as follows:
Emmanuel Camacho Contreras Jr.:
- Organized Scheme to Defraud
- Possession of Counterfeit Currency (three counts)
- Possession of Methamphetamine
- Total bond: $130,000
- Contreras also has non-extraditable warrants out of Jacksonville, Florida, and the State of Tennessee related to fraud.
Ronny Camacho Aleman:
- Organized Scheme to Defraud
- Possession of Counterfeit Currency (three counts)
- Utter Forged or Counterfeit Bill
- Possession of Methamphetamine
- Total bond: $75,000
Joel Gonzalez:
- Organized Scheme to Defraud
- Possession of Counterfeit Currency (three counts)
- Utter Forged or Counterfeit Bill (two counts)
- Possession of Methamphetamine
- Total bond: $90,000 (posted and released on 5/19/22)
If anyone has any information or believes their business may have been a victim of the above subjects, please call Det. Dennis McKenzie at (772) 978-6202.
