A New York man was arrested and charged June 12 after he allegedly used counterfeit money to make purchases at Ulta Beauty and GameStop in Montgomeryville.
Joel Cabrera, 34, has been charged with forgery, theft by deception, conspiracy, receiving stolen property, possession of controlled substances and use and possession of drug paraphernalia, in connection with the investigation by the Montgomery Township Police Department.
According to criminal complaint, police were dispatched to Ulta Beauty Store June 11 after Cabrera reportedly was at the store waiting in line with a basket of items and multiple counterfeit $100 bills in his hand. The caller told police that Cabrera was in the store earlier that day with one unidentified male and one unidentified female where $2,100 worth of counterfeit $100 bills were used.
It was reported that there was a “lookout” in the parking lot because Cabrera, upon police arrival outside, abruptly dropped the basket of items and exited the store. Cabrera then allegedly walked toward the TJ Maxx with a Game Stop bag after.
Police reportedly drove toward Cabrera and activated their emergency lights and siren to alert him to stop. Cabrera allegedly acknowledged police but continued to enter the TJ Maxx and began to run as police ordered him to stop. Cabrera ran into TJ Maxx up the escalator and failed to comply with police after he was ordered to get on the ground, police said.
When police caught up to Cabrera, he began to comply and was taken into custody without further incident, according to charging documents.
A follow-up investigation was conducted at GameStop pertaining to the stolen video games as well as at Ulta Beauty Store. Cabrera was allegedly in possession of eight PlayStation 5 video games. The total amount of loss to GameStop was $419.92, the report states.
During the transaction at GameStop, they also returned $54.88 to Cabrera as change, according to the complaint.
Police said Cabrera was found to be in possession of an additional 17 counterfeit $100 dollar bills and one square piece of perforated blotter paper containing Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance.
Cabrera was arraigned June 12 by District Judge Edward Kropp, who set bail at 10% of $25,000 cash. He posted bail on June 14. His next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on July 19 at 9:45 a.m. in front of District Judge Andrea Duffy.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
See also:
Semi-Nude Woman Arrested Outside of Lansdale Borough Hall, Claimed Snakes Ate Her Pants, Police Say
Upper Gwynedd Man Tased After Stealing Car, Passing Out then Assaulting Medic, Police Say
Two Men Accused of Stealing $700 Worth of Perfume from Ulta Beauty in Montgomeryville, Police Say
Hilltown Man Charged After Attempting to Cash Fraudulent Check, Police Say
