Ryan F. Hampton

WARSAW — A Warsaw man was arrested after using a counterfeit $20 bill at a gas station.

Ryan F. Hampton, 18, 5097 W. CR 550N, Warsaw, is being charged with counterfeiting, a level 6 felony.

On June 19, an officer with the Warsaw Police Department was dispatched to a Lassus Handy Dandy gas station in Warsaw regarding a subject paying for gas with a counterfeit $20 bill. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the station’s manager, who said they received the counterfeit bill from a male subject.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the manager said Hampton walked into the store, handed an attendant the counterfeit bill to prepay for fuel, and immediately left the store to pump gas into his vehicle.

The manager stopped Hampton from pumping fuel and learned he had no other way to pay for the gas. However, Hampton refused to sign a 48-hour agreement to come back and pay for the fuel. The officer observed the bill, which had the words “Play Copy Money” and “Copy Money” in bold capital letters on the front of the bill.

Hampton was heard telling his mother he received the counterfeit bill for delivering food to a friend. Earlier, Hampton told officers he received the counterfeit bill from selling a pair of shoes to an individual.

He was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on June 19, with a $5,250 surety and cash bond.