Home Computers Used To Make Phony Money In Thurston County

Several Thurston County businesses have received phony $20 bills in the past two weeks, police say.

The bogus bills apparently were made on personal computers.

That reflects a national trend toward counterfeiting bills with ink jet or laser printers, said Chuck Brewster, special agent in charge at the U.S. Secret Service field office in Seattle.

“With the advent of computer desktop publishing, we’ve seen an increase in all states, not just Washington,” Brewster said.

More than 10 businesses in the county were hit with counterfeit bills last week.

Stephany McKendry, 28, pleaded innocent to a charge of forgery Thursday in Lewis County Superior Court, said Prosecutor Jeremy Randolph.

Police said McKendry is suspected of passing bills in Pierce, Thurston and Lewis counties.

Police are questioning other people who might have been involved, but detectives do not think McKendry was part of a counterfeiting ring.