Mounties bust counterfeit money ring in Hamilton, Burlington and across Southern Ontario

Mounties have seized fake Canadian $100 bills and charged a trio from Burlington, Markham, and Belleville allegedly running a counterfeit money ring.

Back in June, the RCMP say investigators received information from the loss prevention department at a Home Depot that a group of individuals had purchased goods from multiple retailers using suspected counterfeit $100 bills.

Police say an organized group was targeting big box stores to pass the counterfeit bills by purchasing merchandise with fake money bills and returning the goods at a different location to get a full refund on the initial purchase.

Mounties say the counterfeit $100 bills were passed throughout the GTA and across Ontario along the Hwy 401 corridor between Belleville and London, Barrie and Hamilton.

Police say the fake bills were sophisticated and replicated current bank note security features, but had various print defects that set them apart from a genuine currency.

Raj Kirubananthan, 31, of Markham; Jessica Mitchell, 38, of Belleville; and Bleu Lawrence, 28, of Burlington have each been charged with:

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• Uttering counterfeit money
• Possession of counterfeit money
• Possession of property obtained by crime
• Laundering the proceeds of crime
• Conspiracy to commit offences

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Anyone with information related to counterfeit money, who suspects they are in possession of counterfeit money, or believes someone has attempted to pass along counterfeit money is asked to contact local police or the Ontario RCMP at 1-800-387-0020.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously by calling 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or by visiting www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca.