"Lucky" Dinero Lands Two Men in Jail
Prince William County Police
A Spanish phrase was the giveaway.
Police in Prince William County have charged two Virginia men with possessing counterfeit $100 bills.
The bills had the phrase "BILLETE DE LA SUERTE ALASITAS" written in one corner. Translated, the words mean “lucky ticket.”
The Secret Service said the bills are linked to 125 other cases they are currently investigating.
The Prince William County investigation began June 3 during a traffic stop on Dumfries Road and Independent Hill Drive. The driver, 30-year-old Jose Portillio, of Bealton, Va., was suspected of driving drunk. Police found three of the phony $100 bills on him.
When police later determined that Portillio got the bills from another man, it led to the arrest of 39-year-old Ronald Virto, of Manassas, authorities said. Another 59 phony bills were found in Virto’s home.
Virto told police he brought them from Peru.
The Prince William County Police are hoping the public will come forward with more counterfeit bills that were passed throughout northern Virginia.
