Fake money leads to arrest

Published 8:33 am Thursday, January 18, 2018

An Indiana man was arrested in Middlesboro on Jan. 17 for using counterfeit money and other charges.

Middlesboro Police Detective Joe Holder stated in the citation that Thomas L. Maxey 47, of Indianapolis, Indiana, accompanied by an unidentified female, attempted to pass two counterfeit $20 bills at the Family Dollar in the Village Square Shopping Center.

The citation states that Holder said Maxey attempted to pay for items with one bill and the cashier used the counterfeit pen on the paper, showing it was fake. Maxey then offered a second bill which was also fake. Maxey then gathered both bills and left the store, splitting up with the female companion. Holder located Maxey inside Big Lots Store in the same shopping center with the counterfeit bills still in his hand. A search incident revealed a plastic baggie with a residue that Maxey stated was methamphetamine and a spoon commonly used for drug use.

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Maxey was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possessing drug paraphernalia.

• Martha Leffler, 37, of Middlesboro, was arrested on Jan. 15 by the Middlesboro Police Department on charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, no operator’s license, failure to maintain required insurance, rear license plate not illuminated, and was served three bench warrants.

Brian O’Brien of The Big One 106.3 FM WRIL contributed to this article.