Area police arrest 3 in counterfeit money printing operation
A combined investigation by police from Canton, Plymouth, and Northville townships resulted in the Dec. 13 arrest of three men and the seizure of a counterfeit money printing operation. Local police investigators worked with the U.S. Secret Service to halt the counterfeiting operation, which affected multiple communities in southeast Michigan.
In November, Canton Township detectives were made aware of an increase in counterfeit $100 bills being used by customers at several local businesses. Similar fake bills were being foisted onto merchants in both Plymouth and Northville, along with other communities in the area, according to police, prompting a joint investigation into the incidents.
The joint federal and local law enforcement operation identified the counterfeit production location at a home in the 17000 block of Salem Street in Detroit. Three Detroit men, Darrion Daniels, 26, Darrien Daniels, 24, and Renard Scales, were arrested Dec. 11 following the execution of a search warrant at the Salem Street address. During the execution of the search warrant, police recovered printers, chemicals, tools, and ink, along with multiple firearms. Some of the guns had been reported stolen, according to police reports of the incident.
Police said the fake bills from the Detroit operation had been passed at an estimated 50 locations in southeastern Michigan.
The three suspects were arraigned Dec. 13 before Magistrate Delphia Burton of the 36th District Court. Darrion Daniels and Darrien Daniels are each charged with counterfeiting coins or notes/possession of five or more, possession of counterfeiting tools, and multiple counts of felony firearm. Scales is charged with counterfeiting coins or notes/possession of five or more, and possession of counterfeiting tools. Each was issued a $100,000 personal bond at the court arraignment.
