For allegedly passing $200 at Cabin Bar

NICOLLET COUNTY — A 41-year-old Nicollet woman faces a gross misdemeanor possession of counterfeit currency charge in Nicollet County District Court, after allegedly passing $200 worth of counterfeit bills at the Cabin Bar in Nicollet April 29.

A gross misdemeanor possession of counterfeit currency charge was filed against Jodie M. Carlson, 230 Cedar St., Nicollet, on July 31. Her first court appearance was set for 8:45 a.m. Sept. 4.

According to court documents, the Cabin Bar owner told Nicollet County Investigator Marc Chadderdon that he was preparing to deposit the previous evening’s sales April 30 when he discovered someone passed two counterfeit $100 bills at the bar.

The bar owner explained that each bill is stamped “For Motion Picture Purposes” at the top on the front and back. In addition, he reported both bills had the same serial number. Bar staff working the previous night said Carlson passed the bills. The bar owner said Carlson went to the bar earlier that day and offered to purchase the counterfeit bills back from him. In addition, she said her children must have exchanged her real currency with the fake ones without telling her.

On May 7, bar staff told Chadderdon that Carlson was playing electronic gambling machines in the bar on April 29 and left. Later that night, Carlson returned and presented two $100 bills, asking that they be exchanged for 10 $20 bills.

Carlson admitted to passing the two counterfeit $100 bills at the bar in exchange for 10 $20 bills to provide her daughter with gas money. Carlson denied knowing the bills were counterfeit.

The Nicollet County Sheriff’s Office reported seeing a rise in the amount of counterfeit currency in the area recently, according to a press release. The sheriff’s office asked that businesses be vigilant and check currency to ensure it is authentic before accepting or exchanging it.