On May 27, 2013 a counterfeit twenty dollar bill was found at the Papa John’s pizza store in Saint Albans, WV. The bill was found as part of a delivery driver’s collected money. The Saint Albans Police Department was called and began an investigation. Among the addresses to which the driver had delivered pizza was Nick Hanson’s residence on West Main Street, near Saint Albans. Mr. Hanson was on home confinement for burglary, non-aggravated robbery, and wanton endangerment. His home confinement officer, M. Hammack, visited Mr. Hanson and conducted a search of his person. Counterfeit bills were located, including one with the same serial number as that passed to the Papa John’s delivery driver.
A search warrant was obtained and executed on June 4, 2013. The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office’s digital forensics investigator, Detective J. Burns, became the primary investigator. He was assisted by other detectives from the KCSO and members of the Saint Albans Police Department. In addition to several other items seized pursuant to the search warrant, Detective Burns located and seized a printer/scanner/copier hidden beneath the mobile home residence.
Mr. Hanson was charged with counterfeiting. He was arrested, processed, and arraigned. At arraignment his bail was set at $5,000.00 cash. No one posted his bail and he was taken to South Central Regional Jail. The investigation now involves the Saint Albans Police Department, the United States Secret Service, and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. Additional incidents of uttering counterfeit bills are being investigated, and additional charges may follow.
As is always the case in criminal matters, the charges against Mr. Hanson are merely accusations. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Attached is a copy of the criminal complaint against Hanson (I have experienced some technical problems with the pdf printer I’ve used, and have attached the document in .xps format, which should open through internet explorer for most users).
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Corporal B. D. Humphreys
Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office
301 Virginia Street East,
Charleston WV 25301
304-357-0732 / 304-951-7328