Berlin man arrested on counterfeit charges in Ocean City
A Berlin man is facing charges, after Police say he was found with drugs, and counterfeit money, during a traffic stop.
Ocean City Police say on January 1, detectives with the Ocean City Police Department Narcotics Unit were conducting surveillance, when they saw 35-year-old Christopher Simone, driving with a suspended license, so they pulled him over at 59th Street and Coastal Highway.
During the stop, Police say they searched the vehicle, and found heroin, drug paraphernalia, a large fixed blade knife and a police style baton, along with counterfeit currency. Simone was then taken into custody, and charged with possession of heroin, and two counts of possession of a deadly weapon. He was later ordered to be held at the Worcester County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
Later that evening, Police say Detectives with Ocean City Police Department Criminal Investigation Division detectives and members of the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team continued to look into the counterfeit currency. They reportedly ended up searching Simone’s home in Berlin, where they say they found counterfeit currency, and equipment that was used to print counterfeit currency.
The serial numbers used on the counterfeit currency in the home, matched those found in the search of Simone’s car, as well as serial numbers from a counterfeit case in Wicomico County, according to authorities.
On January 7, Simone was released from the Worcester County Jail, and two days later, was arrested again on felony charges in connection with the January 1 house search. After his January 9 arrest, Simone was charged with two counts of knowingly possessing counterfeit U.S. currency, scanning digital images of U.S. currency with intent to defraud, and manufacturing U.S. currency with intent to defraud. He was then ordered to be held on a $250,000 bond, at the Worcester County Jail.
Police say the serial numbers used by Simone are #ML80574368D, #MA82495055A, #MB544124485C, and #IC47767665. Anyone who believes they may be a victim of this counterfeit case is asked to contact Detective Dave Whitmer at 410-520-5390 or dwhitmer@oceancitymd.gov.
