A traffic stop early Monday morning in Fayetteville led to the discovery of approximately $2,000 in counterfeit bills and the arrest of eight people in the vehicle after no one admitted ownership of the bogus bills.

Arrested at the scene on a traffic offense and 2nd degree forgery was 20-year-old College Park resident Kelton Kelly, according to Fayetteville Police spokesperson Steve Crawshaw.

Also arrested on charges of 2nd degree forgery were 31-year-old Fayetteville resident Brian Carlton, 23-year-old College Park resident John Walton, 29-year-old Fayetteville resident Ronando Smalley, 23-year-old College Park resident Gregory Moore, 23-year-old College Park resident Laquentin Smith, 21-year-old Fayetteville resident Mitchell Thiravong and 30-year-old Duluth resident Adegoriola Abodunrin, Crawshaw said.

Crawshaw said the incident unfolded around 1 a.m. when the van was stopped at a road check and the K-9 unit alerted on the vehicle signifying the presence of drugs. Officers found suspected marijuana residue, a 9mm handgun and a large amount of U.S. currency, said Crawshaw.

A closer look by officers revealed that the currency, all $20 bills, had no security strips, Crawshaw said. Upon being questioned by officers Thiravong at first said he found the money at a friend’s house and decided to keep it, then changed his story to say the money was not his, Crawshaw said.

All the occupants of the vehicle were subsequently charged, Crawshaw said.

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