On October 22, 2010, Patrolman Michael Smith responded to the Big “A” Service Center at 139 East Westfield Avenue on the report that someone paid for gasoline with counterfeit bills. The attendant stated that a gray Chevrolet Impala with chrome rims, pulled up to the gas pumps. The driver, described as a male wearing a blue hat, approximately 40 years old, asked for $10 of gas. After the gas was pumped he
asked for an additional $10 worth of gas. The male then gave the attendant two (2) ten dollar bills which he could tell were counterfeit immediately. The attendant said to the driver,“these are fake” at which time the vehicle drove out of the gas station and headed west on East Westfield Avenue. Patrol units checked the area for the vehicle with negative results. The license plate of the vehicle was noted by the attendant and a check on the registration came back to a 2000 Chevy Impala color silver out of Rahway, NJ registered to a female.
A follow up investigation by Detective Frino resulted in the identification of Carlos Diaz, Jr., age 42, of Rahway, NJ. Detective Frino obtained a confession from Diaz, who admitted he knowingly used the counterfeit currency to obtain the gasoline. Diaz was charged with 2C:21-1A (forgery), and 2C:20-4 (theft by deception) and released pending a superior court date of October 3, 2010.