RLP NEWS
Orem, Utah — Three suspects have been apprehended following a series of counterfeit-related incidents at Target and Kohl’s stores throughout Utah. Michael Canari Ramos, 22; Fernando Granados Veliz, 24; and Jennifer Quespe, 23, face multiple felony charges, including theft, retail theft, forgery, criminal conspiracy, and a pattern of unlawful activity.
The arrests were initiated after employees at a Target store in Orem reported four individuals attempting to make purchases using counterfeit $100 bills. Staff became suspicious when the bills didn’t match others on hand, discovering three fake bills, two of which were abandoned at a checkout and one found in the parking lot. Video surveillance confirmed the suspects’ actions and revealed that some of the bills had identical serial numbers.
By Monday, multiple law enforcement officers and the Utah Attorney General’s Office tracked down the suspect vehicle, taking three of the four individuals into custody in Riverdale. During the arrest, authorities recovered over $1,400 in Target merchandise, $500 in Kohl’s merchandise, 88 counterfeit $100 bills, and more than $4,000 in legitimate cash.
The investigation revealed that the suspects targeted various stores across the state:
- October 26: Spanish Fork Target, multiple Provo Targets, Orem Target and Kohl’s, American Fork Target and Kohl’s
- October 27: Targets in South Jordan, Fort Union, West Jordan, West Valley City, and American Fork Kohl’s
- October 28: Kohl’s and Target stores in Centerville, and Kohl’s in Layton and Clinton
Loss Prevention at Target estimates their total losses at approximately $4,300, while Kohl’s estimates around $4,100 in losses due to the counterfeit scheme.
The affidavit notes that all three suspects are foreign nationals with New York and New Jersey addresses, although authorities have not been able to verify these addresses, and none of the suspects have known ties to Utah. They remain in custody pending immigration hearings.