Two Columbine High School students have been arrested for their alleged roles in circulating counterfeit money at the south Jefferson County school.
The two male students – a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old – were charged Thursday with fraud, said Jacki Kelley, spokeswoman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
The bills – in the denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10 and $20 – surfaced last week, prompting school officials to notify parents by phone and e-mail.
One boy allegedly created the bills on a home computer and printer and the other boy “was aware it happened and passed one of the bills,” Kelley said.
The two were taken to the juvenile assessment center and were released to their parents. Disciplinary action has been taken by the school.
The computer, printer and a fake $2 bill that had been passed at a student store in Columbine were seized.
Kelley said some innocent students were approached and asked to make change for one of the fake bills, with the suspect receiving real bills in return.
“We’re asking students who were asked to make change to come forward,” Kelley said, and to go through bills in their possession to see if any are fake.
Authorities believe only “a handful” of counterfeit bills were circulated and the activity was limited within the high school.
“We’d like to collect any bills that were passed as evidence,” Kelley said. “We know there’s more out there.”
Principal Frank DeAngelis said the situation was “pretty isolated here. We’re thinking we caught it fairly early.”
E-mails alerting parents to the issue were sent out “because if these bills continue to be used, even innocently, the bearer of the money could face arrest,” DeAngelis said.
While those spending the bills could be arrested, Kelley said it was unlikely.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
