Two Bardstown men arrested after counterfeit bill passed at Walgreens

STAFF REPORT

Monday, June 4, 2012, 5:50 p.m. — Bardstown Police have arrested two men on forgery charges in connection with a counterfeit $20 bill that was passed Sunday at Walgreens, 824 North 3rd Street.

Jon Scott Buechele, 28, and James M. Kepper, 34, both of Bardstown, were arrested Monday and charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument following a police investigation of the counterfeit bill. They were lodged in the Nelson County Jail.

According to police, Buechele entered the Walgreens store and allegedly passed a fake $20 bill Sunday evening. An employee recognized him, and when he returned and attempted to pay with a second counterfeit bill, the employee refused to accept the bill as payment.

Detectives located Buechele Monday morning and questioned him about the counterfeit money. He admitted to police he passed one counterfeit bill at the store and attempted to pass a second one.

The investigation led police to a home at 1311 Lucy Drive, the home of James M. Kepper, where police were given consent to conduct a search. Police found numerous photocopied currency in $20 and $50 denominations. Police seized a photocopy scanner and several bills from the trash that had been copied. In an interview with police, Kepper admitted his involvement in counterfeiting the bills.

Police said the pair were working together, with Kepper allegedly producing the counterfeit bills, and Buechele’s alleged role was to pass the bills to drug dealers to purchase narcotics.

The investigation is continuing, and police are asking anyone with information to contact them at (502) 348-6811.

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