The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Secret Service questioned Andrew Hairl, 33, of 118 Sacred Heart, Tuesday at the Helena-West Helena Criminal Investigation Unit after the Phillips County Sheriff’s Department arrested him on felony forgery charges.
The department was acting on a tip that may have prevented the circulation of thousands of dollars of counterfeit money.
Hairl is charged with forgery in the second degree with the department expecting more charges to be filed later during the investigation.
His bond is currently set at $25,000 and Hairl is being held in the Phillips County Jail.
According to the department, officers served a search warrant on the residence around 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4 and found evidence that Hairl was allegedly forging money and money orders.
The department confiscated a laptop, scanner, copier and printer, plus several counterfeit bills and money orders.
The sheriff’s department believes Hairl acted alone in the counterfeiting operation and are not sure if any of the fake money or money orders have circulated through
any of the local banks or businesses. They are unsure of the exact amount of the counterfeited money and money orders Hairl churned out in his home.
The denominations that deputies discovered are $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills.
The department said that the investigation is ongoing and is likely to file more charges.
“The sheriff’s department did a phenomenal job,” remarked Brian Marr, special agent in charge of the investigation.
Marr said that Hairl will probably remain in the county jail and be charged under state guidelines. He also suggested that anyone who may have a suspicious bill to bring it to the attention of the local police. He also suggested comparing a suspicious bill to a genuine bill before taking the matter to the police.
Counterfeiting money is a federal offense. Unlike other federal crimes, the Secret Service is in charge of investigating counterfeiting cases. Those found guilty may get up to 15 years in a federal penitentiary, fined, and the confiscation of any property used in the counterfeiting operation.
