Pollce say man used counterfeit cash to buy vehicle

FRANKLIN — A Linden man faces charges after Franklin police investigated a report of conterfeit currency being used to purchase a vehicle in the borough.

Franklin police, along with members of the U.S. Secret Service and Linden police charged Ronhazim H. Skipper, 41, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, with theft by deception, forgery, insurance fraud and providing false information to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Police said on Sept. 1, a Franklin resident reported receiving counterfeit currency from an individual who she sold her motor vehicle to.

Accordin to police, the resident initially reported that on Aug. 22, she posted her personal vehicle for sale on “Craigs List”. An individual who identified himself as Frank White came to her residence in Franklin Borough to view the vehicle and they ultimately agreed on a purchase price of $1,800, police said. The male allegedly turned over $1,800 in what appeared to be United States currency to the Franklin Borough resident.

Police said the resident became suspicious of the currency when a local store advised her they couldn’t accept one of the bills she had received from the sale of her vehicle, as it appeared counterfeit.

Upon receiving a report of this, Franklin Detectives said they worked with experts in genuine currency from the Secret Service who determined the currency was counterfeit.

After a monthlong investigation with the Secret Service and Investigators from the Department of Motor Vehicles, Detectives identified the male who allegedly purchased the vehicle and who previously identified himself as Frank White. Police said Skipper allegedly used counterfeit currency when purchasing the vehicle sold by the Franklin resident. Skipper also is alleged to have committed insurance fraud and prepared and submitted false documents to the Department of Motor vehicles.

He was sent to the Sussex County Jail in lieu of $75,000 with no 10 percent option. The vehicle intended to be sold was recovered in Linden by Franklin police.

His bail was set at $75,000 with no ten percent option. He was lodged in the Sussex County Jail in lieu of bail.