Suspected Counterfeiters Behind Bars

Two Desert Hot Springs residents suspected of producing thousands of dollars in counterfeit currency and using the bogus bills at area businesses were behind bars today.

David Ray Dotson and Brenda Lee Duever, both 33, were arrested Tuesday night, said Sgt. Dan Bressler of the Desert Hot Springs Police Department.

The investigation began earlier this week, when police began receiving reports of someone passing counterfeit bills, Bressler said.

An officer, acting on information from a witness about a vehicle believed connected to the suspects, located the car in the 13400 block of Cuando Way and made a traffic stop, according to Bressler.

Dotson was behind the wheel and allegedly was carrying several hundred dollars in counterfeit bills, along with a small amount of methamphetamine, the sergeant said.

Further investigation led officers to an apartment on Avenida Hermosa, where detectives and agents from the Secret Service found chemicals used to produce the fake currency, Bressler said.

Investigators seized more than $1,000 in bills in $100 and $20 denominations, printing equipment and other counterfeiting paraphernalia and arrested Duever at the apartment, he said.

The pair were being held in lieu of $25,000 bail at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

Anyone who believes they may have received counterfeit money was asked to call police at (760) 329-2904.