Detroit woman charged in counterfeit scam

A Detroit woman was charged on Friday, September 15, in connection with an alleged counterfeit scam days earlier that swindled a person out of $3,800 in the sale of a vehicle in Bloomfield Township. Bloomfield Township Police Detective Sgt. Matt Hill said the suspect, identified as Destiny Thomas, 23, of Detroit, responded to an ad on Craigslist posted by a person trying to sell a car. The seller agreed to meet Thomas in the parking lot at Costco, 2342 Telegraph Road, in Bloomfield Township. Police said Thomas agreed to pay $3,800 for the car, and gave the victim the money in a bank envelope. The victim then took a picture of Thomas holding the title of the vehicle during the transaction. "When the victim went to the bank to deposit the money, he was advised that it was counterfeit," Hill said. "The next day, Thomas was arrested by the Troy Police Department while attempting to use counterfeit money. The victim's vehicle was recovered during the arrest." The incident was presented to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office and a warrant was subsequently authorized. Thomas was charged with uttering and publishing counterfeit bills or notes, and larceny by false pretenses. She was arraigned in 48th District Court and held on a $50,000 cash bond, due to her extensive criminal history, police said. Thomas is due to appear in 48th District Court on October 2.