Cass County Sheriff Joseph M. Underwood and City of Dowagiac Director of Public Safety Thomas Atkinson announce that their agencies conducted a joint investigation into several counterfeit bills that were appearing in the greater Dowagiac area.

On Friday, July 15, an adult female was arrested by detectives in connection with the counterfeiting.

Beginning in late winter 2011, area law enforcement began to note in an increase in counterfeit money appearing in and around the City of Dowagiac.

City of Dowagiac police, Cass County sheriff’s deputies, Cass County Drug Enforcement detectives and the U.S. Secret Service worked together to investigate the matter.

Police eventually developed at least one suspect and seized a computer during the investigation.

An arrest warrant was issued through the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office.

On July 15 a subject was arrested pursuant to the warrant in the City of Dowagiac.

The charges listed on the warrant were possession of counterfeiting tools and uttering and publishing counterfeit bills or notes.

The charges on the warrant are both felony charges.

The female subject was lodged at the Cass County Jail on the felony warrant and a second unrelated misdemeanor warrant for a driving offense out of the Village of Cassopolis Police Department.

This matter remains under investigation.  Anyone with information on this matter is asked to contact police at 269-782-5206 or leave an anonymous web tip at WWW.CCSO.INFO.