A police officer’s investigation of the smell of pot around a West Des Moines motel room resulted in the arrest Sunday afternoon of two men allegedly involved in printing fake $100 bills.
Yaovi Roland Marcel Aledi, 20, of West Des Moines was charged with forgery, conspiracy to commit a felony-property crime, second-offense possession of a controlled substance-marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Abdulaye Mansaray, 22, of Des Moines was charged with forgery, conspiracy to commit a felony-property crime and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The incident began when a West Des Moines Police Department Officer responded to a report of suspicious activity in a room at the Motel 6 at 7655 Office Plaza Dr. N. in West Des Moines. A knock at room 309 brought Aledi and Mansaray to the door, along with the odor of cannabis, according to court records.
A search warrant was executed, and among the items found in the room were “a printer, bleach, a band for 100 $1 bills, white, professionally cut pieces of paper consistent with U.S currency, double sided tape and a forged $100 bill.” The pieces of white paper “were located inside the trash can where a green dye liquid was located.”
The evidence led law enforcement to conclude that Aledi and Mansaray “had intent to counterfeit U.S. currency,” according to court records.
Aledi is held in the Dallas County Jail on a $6,000 cash or surety bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Jan. 10 in Dallas County District Court.
Mansaray is held in the Dallas County Jail on a $5,000 cash-only bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Jan. 10 in Dallas County District Court.
Aledi and Mansaray were arrested in July by the De Soto Police Department on charges of forgery, ongoing criminal activity and accessory after the fact after allegedly trying to pass a counterfeit $100 bill at several locations. The case was dismissed in Dallas County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
