State police arrest three caught with more than $15,000 in counterfeit money
Ziad Amer, Katherine Rodriguez and Victor Chalen-Garcia
Ziad Ahmed Amer
Victor Chalen-Garcia
Katherine Rodriguez
A traffic stop by state police Saturday night on Interstate 79 in South Strabane Township ended with the arrest of three people on forgery and drug charges after troopers found more than $15,000 in counterfeit money along with suspected marijuana.
Ziad Ahmed Amer, 21, of Rego Park, N.Y., Katherine Rodriguez, 23, of Woodside, N.Y., and Victor Chalen-Garcia, 28, of Reading, Berks County, are charged with three counts of forgery and one count each of possession and possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possessing instruments of a crime and conspiracy.
Troopers stopped their vehicle on northbound I-79 going 81 mph in an area with a posted speed limit of 55 mph.
Troopers Christopher Storm and Timothy Gilbert approached the vehicle. Amer was identified as the driver with Chalen-Garcia the front seat passenger and Rodriguez in the back. While speaking with the three, the troopers could smell a strong odor of marijuana.
The three were asked to get out of the car. The troopers found a plastic cup in the center console with suspected marijuana. The troopers then found $15,640 in counterfeit money in the trunk of the car.
Police obtained a search warrant for the car to check for more marijuana and possible counterfeiting equipment. It was not known if additional items were found in the car.
Chalen-Garcia has numerous arrests in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey on charges ranging from assault, larency, drugs to weapons violations, police indicated in court documents.
He was also charged Saturday with providing a false identification to an officer and a summary criminal mischief charge. Two witnesses at Hardee’s told state police they saw Chalen-Garcia paint a billboard near the front of the store around 3 p.m. Chalen-Garcia gave police a false name but was identified with his fingerprints.
Rodriguez also has multiple arrests in New York and drug and forgery charges.
All three were arraigned before District Judge Traci McDonald and placed in Washington County jail on $75,000 bond. They are scheduled for a Dec. 5 preliminary hearing before District Judge Jay Weller.