Full Notification

On September 29, 2015 at about 11:28 AM, the Sonoma county Sheriff’s Office received a call in our dispatch center of a man trying to pass a counterfeit $100 bill at a winery in the Dry Creek area. An alert employee working at the retail portion of the winery cleverly declined the money and called 911. The man drove away but the staff provided an excellent description of the man and his vehicle.

We had responded to other calls recently from local wineries and businesses regarding other successful and attempts to pass fake money. Windsor Police Department and Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies were working with our Property Crimes Detectives trying catch the criminal. While looking for the man in the area, they went to other wineries and businesses to find out if the man had been trying to use the counterfeit bills.

Windsor PD Officers discovered that the man had been at four other commercial locations this morning. Some of the businesses did not know the bill he had given them was fake. They all positively identified the man as having just been on their property and passing the counterfeit money.

Timothy Jon Silva, a 52 year old transient, was found by at a winery in his truck and arrested without incident. He was carrying four more counterfeit $100 bill and heroin.

Silva was booked into the Sonoma County Jail for possessing/passing a counterfeit bill with a prior, possession of a controlled substance and violation of probation. Silva was on probation for possessing and passing counterfeit $100 bills; a conviction on August 27 this year. The PCI Detective asked a judge to increase the bail amount and he is now being held without bail. He will be scheduled to appear in court on Thursday at 1:30.

This case is still open and the investigation continues, as other local merchants have reported recent incidents of phony US currency being passed at various establishments. Limited details are being released in order to preserve the integrity of this and potentially other cases. Anyone with information pertaining to this crime is encouraged to contact the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Bureau Tip Line at 707-565-2185.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office reminds everyone to be aware when accepting cash, especially large bills. Get familiar with the security features of the various denominations of US currency. Check out the US Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s website. They are the best resource for detailed, accurate information.

Report #150929-013

Prepared by Sergeant Cecile Focha
Media Relations / PIO


http://www.moneyfactory.gov/uscurrency/100note.html