Bronx Trio Charged With Using Phony $100 Bills

Three Bronx, N.Y., men are due to appear in court Thursday facing several charges of forgery and theft for allegedly using fake $100 bills at several Bradley Beach establishments last week, documents show. 

Jason C. Castillo, 25, Marcus A. Maldonado, 20, and Phillip Peters Jr., 24, were arrested July 18 by Bradley Beach police after, authorities allege, they knowingly used phony notes at six different restaurants and a liquor store in the borough. 

The three men allegedly conspired together to purchase cheap items at each location, taking back nearly $400 in change from the transactions.  

Employees at two of the establishments spotted the counterfeit bills, the criminal complaint says. 

Police say the the trio deprived Ferraro's Pizza of $95; D'Arcys Tavern of $97; Uva of $91.97; Cerrato's Restaurant of $91.50; and The Portugese Shamrock of an amount not specified in the complaint. 

The men were denied at Bradley Liquors and Bamboo Leaf restaurant, the complaint says. 

Each man faces charges of third-degree forgery for alleged possession of each fake bill, and disorderly persons offenses for each alleged theft and attempted theft, the complaints say. 

Each man's bail has been set at $82,000, court records show. They are scheduled to appear Thursday before Superior Court Judge John G. Colannino in Freehold.