POLICE RELEASE MORE INFORMATION ON COUNTERFEIT SPENDING SPREE

State police have released more information on the counterfeit spending spree on Sunday that resulted in the arrest of three individuals.

Police say that four individuals passed fake $100 bills at seven businesses along the Oakland Avenue corridor, and police were able to apprehend three individuals, while a fourth remains at large. Police have identified two of the suspects as 22-year-old Brian Stalin Castro-Ortega of Flushing, New York and 21-year-old Jordan Alexan Alvarado-Garrido, whose hometown is unknown. The third suspect that was apprehended has not been identified yet and is being considered a “John Doe”. He is described as a hispanic adult male in his early 20s.

Castro-Ortega is charged with theft by deception, theft and false identification to authorities. Alvarado-Garrido is charged with conspiracy to theft, theft by deception and other crimes. “John Doe” is charged with theft by deception, theft and other crimes. The three were arraigned and are in Indiana County Jail, with Castro-Ortega and Alvarado-Garrido had bail set at $250,000 each. “John Doe” had bail denied.