Syracuse — A Syracuse man was recently arrested after allegedly using counterfeit money to purchase a vehicle in April.

Ronald Alan Tackitt, 57, PO Box 765, Syracuse, is charged with counterfeiting and theft, both level 6 felonies.

On April 29, an officer with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a vehicle theft. The officer spoke with a man who reported the theft. He advised he was selling a green 2003 GMC Envoy on the Internet.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Tackittt and a woman later identified as Erika Bice, Syracuse, arrived to purchase the vehicle. Bice gave the man selling the vehicle twenty $100 bills. After the title was signed over, Tackitt and Bice drove off with the vehicle.

When the man selling the vehicle got back inside his residence, he noticed the dollar bills were counterfeit.

On May 1, the man advised the sheriff’s office that he had then found the vehicle for sale on the Internet. The officer arranged to purchase the vehicle and met with Bice, who was driving the GMC Envoy. Bice was followed by Tackitt who was driving a truck.

The officer spoke with Tackitt who admitted that he was with Bice when she purchased the vehicle. Tackitt advised that Bice paid for the vehicle with money he knew was counterfeit. Bice admitted to ordering counterfeit money from the Internet and using it to purchase the GMC Envoy.

Tackitt was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on Sept. 12, with a $5,750 surety and cash bond. Bice was arrested for counterfeiting and theft on May 6.