SANTA CLARA COUNTY — The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of a suspect in connection to a large number of counterfeit bills circulating throughout the area.
The suspect, 43-year-old Eric Carl Aspden of Cupertino, is believed to have distributed cotton-like bills resembling official $100 notes. Authorities had initially caught wind of a counterfeiting scheme in Fairfax, Virginia, when counterfeit $20 began to surface. A subsequent investigation eventually led them to the manufacturer.
With help from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Santa Clara officials placed an order for a batch of counterfeit bills and observed as Aspden arrived at the post office to mail them.
He was then followed back to his apartment, after which a search warrant was obtained as well as a warrant for his arrest.
It is estimated that Aspden was mailing large amounts of counterfeit bills to more than 30 states, with more than 2,000 packages shipped within a year. Anyone with information regarding the case is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 408-808-4431.
Aspden’s next court date has been scheduled for April 15th.
