Bad Bills Lead to Forgery Charges for Hemlock Man

UPDATE: According to Steve Sessler, the attorney representing Ellis, the charges have been dismissed in lower court. The GeneseeSun.com has published an additional story on the matter.

GENESEO — Last Monday, a former SUNY Geneseo student found himself facing felony charges after being arrested for attempting to use forged money at multiple businesses in the Village of Geneseo.

According to a press release from Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian, Carter Ellis, 20, of Hemlock, was charged with Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the First Degree, a class C felony, for allegedly possessing and using fake bills.

“Apparently [Ellis] was going out on a whim to see if the bills would work, and unfortunately they did in some cases,” said Chief Osganian. “It is nice that we have made an arrest, but we are continuing to follow up on this. Six members of the Secret Service came down to work with us. Between this and the fake money at 7/11 last year, we are able to work with them more and more as an important resource for us.”

New York State Police located Ellis in Hemlock where he was turned over to the Geneseo Police Department, arrested by Officer Daniel Piedmonte, and arraigned in front of Geneseo Justice Kathleen Houston.

Chief Osganian added that through the Geneseo Police Department’s contact with other law enforcement, they have learned that the fake bills with Asian writing are sometimes used as coupons at the Seneca Allegany Casino in Olean, NY, in Cattaraugus County.

Ellis was remanded to the Livingston County Jail in lieu of $500 cash or $1,000 bond, and as of 8 a.m. on Monday has made bail and been released.