Three arrested for distributing and counterfeiting one hundred dollar bills

A trio is behind bars for distributing and counterfeiting one hundred dollar bills.

Ammon Walmart employees called Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office Deputies late Friday night to report a male attempted to purchase items with a counterfeit $100 bill.

Deputies caught Joshua J. Ford driving out of the Walmart parking lot with two other passengers, Christopher R. Ford and Thanawut Owatrerot.

Officials say deputies were able to confirm Joshua Ford had attempted to make a purchase in Walmart with counterfeit $100 bills after going over surveillance pictures.

Deputies were also aware of a similar recent case, also at Walmart, where a male passed counterfeit bills and identified Christopher Ford as the suspect in that case.

Counterfeit money along with a small amount of marijuana was found in Ford’s vehicle.

Deputies were also able to obtain and serve a search warrant at a residence on 6th St. in Idaho Falls where Christopher, Joshua and Thanawut were living and found a collection of more items used in counterfeiting money.

All three were booked into the Bonneville County Jail on Felony charges of Possessing Forged Bills or Instruments and Possession of Counterfeiting Apparatus.

Joshua Ford was also booked for Felony Passing a Fictitious or Counterfeit Bill, and Christopher Ford was booked for an additional Felony charge of Computer Crime and Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana.

Sheriff’s Office Deputies are working to locate further businesses and victims where counterfeit money was passed.