3 Teens Found With Nearly $20K In Counterfeit Currency: Sheriff

MADEIRA BEACH, FL — Three teenagers were arrested after being caught using counterfeit money at Johns Pass shops, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. They were later found with nearly $20,000 in fake bills.

Business owners in the area reported on Oct. 24 that two people were passing counterfeit currency.

The two, later identified as 18-year-old James Perry of Largo and 19-year-old Benjamin Warshowsky, who is transient, went into the Spice & Tea Exchange at 110 129th Ave. East in Madeira Beach, and asked the employee to break four twenty-dollar bills, the sheriff’s office said.

The owner later found that the four bills were counterfeit. Several other businesses nearby reported fraudulent bills, as well.

Detectives learned during their investigation that 19-year-old Myles Dorris of Seminole was also involved in the scheme.

Perry, Warshowsky and Dorris altered the bills and planned to rent a car and pass the bills in Georgia and Tennessee, the sheriff’s office said.

When detectives tried to contact them, Warshowsky left on an electric bike and Dorris ran away. Both were found and taken into custody not long after this. All three suspects were booked into the Pinellas County Jail.

During the arrests, detectives found nearly $20,000 in counterfeit currency.

Those who believe their business received counterfeit currency should contact Detective Bereznay at 727-582-6015.

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