| Friday, July 16, 2010 |
| Counterfeiter Gambles with "Funny Money" at Local Casinos - Sgt. Lesley Hill |
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 Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Houma man for gambling with counterfeit money in at least two Lafourche Parish truck stop casinos. Carl Eschete (WM, DOB 9/2/1981, 225 Santa Monica Drive, Houma) was arrested Thursday evening following an investigation that began on July 4th.
On July 4th, employees with the Jester’s Walk Casino in Mathews (Hwy 308 & 654) reported finding counterfeit currency in the receipts from the night before. Two phony $100 bills and one fake $20 bill was found in the garbage can outside. Further investigation led detectives to Eschete who was taken into custody in Terrebonne Parish without incident, with the assistance of a Louisiana State Police Narcotics Agent.
The investigation is ongoing but is believed to be the continuation of an operation that authorities in Terrebonne first discovered in May when they arrested Eschete and Stephanie Giroir (AKA Stephanie Bergeron). Detectives believe Eschete and Giroir printed thousands of dollars worth of the “funny money” and it is unclear at this time just how much of it has been circulated in the local community.
“The pair went so far as to “mark” the bills to make it look as if they had already been checked by a bill checking pen,” said Sheriff Webre. “With the brown streak in place, cashiers often accepted the bills, no questions asked,” he added. Sheriff Webre offers the following tips to businesses in how to spot the counterfeit cash:
• Be sure to use your own bill checking pen to sort the bogus from the real bills
• Be sure to check all money in well lit areas. The counterfeits look very real in low light. But when you take a closer look, the real bills are much brighter in color. Also, the eagle found in the lower right hand side of the bill should have a glittery green appearance, not a dull gray appearance as found in the fake bills.
At this point, detectives believe the counterfeit money was also spent at Raceland Cash Magic casino. Anyone who believes they have some of the phony bills is asked to call Detective Barry Hebert at (985) 532-2255. You can also call Crimestoppers at 1-800-743-7433.
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