Jan. 27--A 27-year-old Wal-Mart employee has been charged after allegedly helping two people swap counterfeit cash for gift cards, officials said.
A Lake County prosecutor said that on Jan. 15 two people gave Kendra T. Pitts counterfeit bills in exchange for a gift card. Days later, they allegedly made a similar transaction -- this time for $1,850 in gift cards, the prosecutor said during a Tuesday bond hearing.
Surveillance video allegedly showed Pitts handling the counterfeit money different than money from a typical transaction, the prosecutor said.
Pitts, of Zion, told police she did not know the bills were fake the first time, but knew what was going on the second time, when she was allegedly promised a share of the gift cards, the prosecutor said.
Pitts was charged with one count of felony forgery, according to court records. She told Judge Christen Bishop it was the first time she has been arrested.
Bishop released Pitts on a $50,000 recognizance bond and ordered that she not return to the Wal-Mart. Authorities did not identify the Wal-Mart.
Pitts' next court date is scheduled for March 2.
lzumbach@tribpub.com
