6 arrested for multiple felonies
Published 3:58 pm Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Six people in southern Minnesota were arrested Tuesday as part of an ongoing investigation of counterfeit money, methamphetamine sales and meth use.
According to authorities, the investigation involved undercover officers purchasing more than $30,000 of counterfeit $100 bills. More than $3,200 counterfeit bills that have been passed through businesses have been collected.
Two of the arrested include Albert Leans Travis and Heather Cameron, who were arrested for counterfeiting currency, fifth-degree meth possession and fifth-degree possession of a schedule two narcotic. Another 14-year-old girl from Albert Lea was also arrested for fourth-degree assault to an officer.
According to reports, one woman and man were also arrested in Steele County, and one man was arrested in Rice County.
The news release states the U.S. Secret Service, South Central Drug Investigation Unit, Rice County Drug Task Force agents and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension have been investigating the case since May.
Police stated the Camerons were arrested Tuesday after Heather Cameron reportedly arranged the sale of $5,000 worth of counterfeit money to an undercover agent.
When Travis Cameron showed up to meet the agent, officers arrested him for counterfeiting money. At that time, he had $5,400 of counterfeited $100 bills on him.
Within minutes, other officers executed three search warrants, including in the cities of Albert Lea, Owatonna and Faribault.
When a search warrant was conducted at an apartment at 1908 Bridge Ave., police reportedly found Heather Cameron with her two 7-year-old children. During the search, officers found equipment involved in manufacturing money, about one gram of meth and several meth paraphernalia items.
The Camerons are slated to appear in Freeborn County District Court on the charges on Thursday.
Eleven agencies were involved in the case, including the Rice County Drug Task Force, the South Central Drug Task Force, the U.S. Secret Service, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Rice County Sheriff’s Office, the Faribault Police Department, the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, the Albert Lea Police Department, the Steele County Sheriff’s Office, the Owatonna Police Department and the Austin Police Department.