Chase leads police to counterfeiting operation

A Tennessee man who led police on a chase Tuesday was arrested, and multiple counterfeit bills were found in his vehicle, according to a probable-cause statement filed in connection with the case.

Josepth T. Honshell, 34, of Cordova, Tennessee, has been charged with felony possession of a forging instrument, possession of a controlled substance and resisting a lawful stop.

Wal-Mart employees informed Cape Girardeau police about a suspect passing counterfeit money at their store Tuesday and relayed the suspect's vehicle information.

Honshell, as he was identified, led officers on a pursuit, was apprehended, and a search of his vehicle revealed multiple counterfeit bills, according to the probable-cause statement by detective Joe Thomas of the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Honshell then told officers he rented room 2014 at Town House Inn, 505 N. Kingshighway, with other people, and there were counterfeiting devices in the hotel room, Thomas wrote.

Officers found James Honshell; his fiancee, Amanda Ragsdale; and Brittany Tubb in the room, along with a printer and $2,150 in counterfeit money, according to the probable-cause statement.

"The money looked awkward, was cut different than normal bills, and there were repeating serial numbers between the denominations," Thomas wrote. "The three subjects stated they did not know about Joseph's counterfeit operation, and no one claimed the printer or counterfeit money."

While in the hotel room, officers received a surveillance image from Wal-Mart showing James Honshell and Amanda Ragsdale leaving Wal-Mart wearing the same clothes they were wearing at the time of the search, Thomas wrote. Wal-Mart employees told officers James Honshell had passed three counterfeit $100 bills in a transaction earlier Tuesday, and he was arrested on suspicion of passing counterfeit bills, according to the probable-cause statement.

In an interview at police headquarters, James Honshell said he passed the $100 bills, but they were given to him by Joseph Honshell, and he had been arrested once before for counterfeiting, but the charges were dismissed, Thomas wrote.

bkleine@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

3439 William St., Cape Girardeau, Mo