Hernando deputies said this is an organized group and agencies throughout Florida have asked for help regarding their own cases involving the five.

HERNANDO COUNTY – Deputies from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said they have picked up five people after receiving a report of counterfeit money.

Aaron Jamar Samuel Shaw, 21, was charged with one count each of Uttering Counterfeit Bills and Grand Theft.

Jeiza Ashanti Graham, 16, was charged with one count each of Uttering Counterfeit Bills, Grand Theft, Providing False Name to a Law Enforcement Officer, and a Juvenile Pick Up Order from Broward County — Possession of Weapon on School Property.

Jeffery Scot Robinson, 20, was charged with one count of Possession of Marijuana less than 20 Grams.

Thalia Diaz, 17, was charged with one count each of Uttering Counterfeit Bills and Grand Theft.

Kayla Alyssa Lopez, 19, was released but charges are pending, deputies said.

Several other cases that Hernando deputies are investigating are tied to these five and additional charges are pending, deputies said. As this is an organized group who operate through illegal activity, deputies said that agencies throughout the state of Florida have requested the assistance of the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office with their own cases involving them.

On April 14-19, Hernando deputies received a complaint involving the utterance of counterfeit bills at the Walmart at 13300 Cortez Blvd. in Brooksville.

Five individuals later identified as Shaw, Robinson, Graham, Diaz, and Lopez were seen entering the store together.

Deputies said Shaw tried to buy Visa Pre-Paid gift cards, with $350 worth of $50 counterfeit bills. After employees determined the money to be counterfeit, Shaw abandoned his counterfeit money and fled the store.

During this transaction, at another register, Diaz tried to buy Visa Pre-Paid gift cards with $450 in $50 counterfeit bills. Deputies said the cashier recognized the money to be counterfeit and Diaz left the store, leaving the counterfeit bills behind.

Simultaneously, deputies said, Graham also tried to buy a prepaid card using counterfeit currency. During the commotion, Graham abandoned her transaction, and fled with the others.

A Walmart loss prevention employee was able to relay the suspects’ vehicle description to deputies.

Deputies in the area conducted a traffic stop on the suspects’ silver Toyota Highlander SUV and took them into custody. While conducting an investigation at roadside, deputies said they noted the vehicle emitted an
overwhelming odor of marijuana. A misdemeanor amount of marijuana was recovered from the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

After the incident at the Cortez Boulevard Walmart, Walmart employees at the Commercial Way store in Spring Hill were contacted and asked to review their surveillance video.

Spring Hill Walmart employees found the same group of suspects on video at that location earlier in the day. Using the same techniques used at Cortez Boulevard Walmart, the suspects successfully used $400 in counterfeit bills to buy gift cards at that location.

A search warrant was conducted on the suspects’ vehicle at which time deputies said they found additional counterfeit bills, a printer, heavyweight paper, several pairs of scissors along with additional legitimate currency.

Photo shows Aaron Jamar Samuel Shaw, left, and Jeffery Scot Robinson.

Hernando Sheriff | Crime | Counterfeit Money | Arrests | TB Reporter

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