'Did I Give You Fake Money?' Man Said, According to Police

A Bethlehem Township man is accused of trying to buy a cell phone using fake $20 bills he had produced in a photocopier, Bethlehem police said.

Jandre Christopher Kellum, 19, of 101 Freedom Court, allegedly passed three counterfeit $20 bills to buy a white LG Optima Elite phone from the victim, who had advertised the phone for sale on Craigslist, according to court papers.

Kellum and the victim met in the parking lot of the KNBT bank at 2515 Easton Ave. at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, the arrest affidavit says.

Then, according to the affidavit:

• The victim handed Kellum the cell phone and Kellum, ostensibly, handed over three $20 bills. But as Kellum walked away, the victim realized that the money was fake.
• The victim then followed Kellum to the Wawa at 2525 Easton Ave. while she called police. Kellum then approached the victim and said: “Did I give you fake money?”
• Kellum was still at the scene when police arrived. He admitted, during a police interview, that he had photocopied the money and used it to buy the cell phone.

Kellum was charged with forgery—a second-class felony -- as well as theft by deception and receiving stolen property. He was arraigned before on-duty District Judge Roy Manwaring and released on $5,000 unsecured bail.