Canton PD, Secret Service Make Arrests

The and the United States Secret Service have broken up a counterfeiting ring that stretched across metro Atlanta.

Demetrius Antwon Brown, Demetrius Antwon Harper and Pucchina Renita Adams, all of Atlanta, were arrested at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 after they tried to pass a counterfeit $100 bill at the Canton Marketplace Best Buy, Canton Police Det. Candy Worthy said.

A search of their vehicle turned up more counterfeit money, small amounts of cocaine and marijuana, a stun gun device and a .40-caliber magazine for a handgun, she said.

Brown, 30, was arrested on five counts of first degree forgery as well as possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana less than one ounce charges. Harper, 27, was arrested on five counts of first degree forgery. And Adams, 43, was arrested on a single charge of first degree forgery.

A fourth individual, 29-year-old Kristen Elizabeth Hitchon of Decatur, was arrested Monday in Atlanta by the United States Secret Service on three counts of first degree forgery.

Worthy said the suspects targeted Target, Belk and shopping centers such as the Canton Marketplace.

"This group is responsible for multiple forgeries by passing counterfeit money in Canton beginning in May and continuing until Oct. 19," Worthy said in a news release. "It is believed that this group is also responsible for the same related crimes in other metro Atlanta counties including Douglas, Rockdale, Fulton, Paulding, Cobb, Gwinnett and Forsyth. These suspects, along with others, were the focus of investigations into the same counterfeiting/forgery in these jurisdictions by local and federal law enforcement, as well as corporate asset protection."

The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are pending, she said.