2015-04-16 Leitner

Counterfeiting Investigation – South Polk Street

Jordan Kelly Leitner, 25, of Amarillo, was arrested on a counterfeiting charge following a joint investigation by the U.S. Secret Service and the Amarillo Police Department on Thursday afternoon.

Investigation

At approximately 4 p.m., the agencies were investigating a possible counterfeit currency operation at an apartment in the 3600 block of South Polk Street in southeast Amarillo, according to an APD news release.

Leitner gave consent for officers to search the apartment. During the search, officers found:

• Approximately $250 in fake cash
• A concealed computer printer
• Forged checks linked to a January auto burglary in south Amarillo

Leitner was found to have a counterfeit $5 bill in his pocket, which appeared to match the other bills found in the apartment, police said.

Arrest and Charges

Leitner was arrested and booked into Randall County Jail on a charge of forgery of a government security.

Investigators reported that the counterfeit money lacked certain security features of authentic U.S. currency.

Ongoing Investigation

Investigators said the case remains open and they anticipate more combined investigations on local counterfeiting activity.

Detecting Counterfeit Currency

According to the U.S. Secret Service, there are several ways to identify counterfeit money:

Feel the paper: Genuine currency is printed on a cotton-linen blend and has a slightly rough texture due to raised printing. Counterfeit bills often feel smooth or waxy.

Look for watermarks: Hold the bill up to light to check for a watermark, which should be visible on denominations of $5 and higher. The watermark should match the portrait on the bill.

Check for color-shifting ink: On $10 and higher denominations made after 1996, the numeral in the lower right corner should shift from green to copper or copper to green when tilted.

Examine the security thread: Bills $5 and higher have a security thread embedded in the paper that runs vertically. Under UV light, these threads glow specific colors depending on the denomination.

Look for raised printing: Run your fingernail across the bill, especially over the portrait. Genuine currency has a slightly raised texture from the printing process.

Check for blurry printing: Counterfeit bills may have noticeably blurry borders, printing, or text compared to authentic currency.

For more information on how to detect counterfeit money, visit the U.S. Secret Service website at www.secretservice.gov.