The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has arrested three Miami men caught passing counterfeit bills at two area stores.
Deputies responded to the Venice Walmart yesterday afternoon after a man tried to buy a vacuum with three fake $100 bills. When the clerk questioned their authenticity the man grabbed the bills back and left the area without making a purchase. He was with two other men who went separate ways once inside the store.
Deputies located all three suspects in the parking lot and during the investigation they recovered four counterfeit $100 bills and items recently purchased from Lowe’s. Deputies learned the suspects passed four counterfeit bills at the Port Charlotte store on Wednesday. Investigators are working with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office regarding those charges, as well as the Secret Service. The investigation is ongoing.
Shirahn Gilbert, DOB 10/19/78, 2860 NW 35th Street; Antonio Hartsfield, DOB 11/22/87, 1853 NE 161st Street, and Matthew Tyson, DOB 11/1/91, 1612 NW 52nd Street, are charged with felony Scheme to Defraud and being held on $1,500 bond each.