08/03/2012
On Friday, August 3, 2012, at approximately 7:00 P.M., Malibu/Lost Hills Station Deputies responded to a local hotel in Agoura Hills, regarding a "Business Disturbance" call. Apparently, the suspects had not been paying for their room charges. Management at the location requested Sheriff's personnel to accompany them while they go to ask the suspects to pay for their outstanding room charges. Deputies subsequently learned that Suspect Ponce had a warrant for her arrest. When they returned to Suspect Ponce's room to arrest her, the Deputies observed a small amount of heroin and drug paraphernalia on a table inside the room. While detaining Suspect Ponce, Deputies also located Suspect Grunden inside the room. Deputies also later learned that Suspect Grunden was on parole for narcotics violation and had a "No Bail" warrant for his arrest for Parole Violation.
While clearing the room for additional suspects, Deputies observed numerous U.S. Currencies scattered on a table, some of them later determined to be counterfeited bills. Additionally, Deputies observed paraphernalia which was consistent with material being used to produce counterfeit U.S. Currency and several unfinished U.S. Currency (one-sided photocopied hundred dollar bills) in the room. Approximately $1,300 dollars of counterfeited U.S. Currency and several hundred dollars of miscellaneous denominations of "real" U.S. Currency were recovered.
United States Secret Service was notified and responded to assist Sheriff's personnel and interviewed the suspects. According to the U.S. Secret Service Agent, he stated this operation was one of the more sophisticated "home-made" money counterfeit operations he had seen.
This case will be consulted with the United States Attorney's General's Office for filing consideration under Federal Court.
The suspects were booked at Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station for Forgery, Felony Drug Possession, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Defrauding an In-keeper. They are being held in lieu of $20,000 bail. Additionally, Suspect Grunden had a "No Bail" warrant for Parole Violation for drug charges and Suspect Ponce had a $26,000 dollars warrant for traffic violation.
Counterfeit U.S. Currency
Narcotics Found In The Hotel
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