Rishon Harrell, 32, of Kansas City, Missouri, was arrested on December 12 after being accused of using counterfeit $50 bills to purchase items at multiple Walmart stores. Harrell faces stealing charges after an off-duty officer recognized him from a previous incident involving counterfeit bills at the same Walmart location.
Court documents reveal that on October 20, Harrell and another man used counterfeit bills to buy a variety of items including LEGO sets, 5-hour Energy shots, and a pumpkin, totaling over $800 in merchandise. The duo also managed to steal $900 in cash by breaking counterfeit bills into smaller denominations. The loss prevention officer believes Harrell and his accomplice were responsible for at least 31 similar crimes at Walmart locations in Kansas and Missouri.
Harrell was arrested after fleeing the store when officers arrived. While in custody, he claimed that the other man had hired him as a secret shopper for Walmart and was paying him under the table. However, authorities do not believe this story and have charged Harrell with stealing.
Harrell, who has a criminal history, is scheduled for a court appearance on December 23. Authorities are still searching for the second suspect involved in the crimes.