An Atmore man accused of swapping 10 authentic $50 bills for 10 counterfeit $50 bills in the purchase of a car in June was arrested Aug. 20.
Matthew Cody Blair, 28, 247 Williams Lane, agreed to meet with Zaccaha Matthew John Larose on June 19 at the Grey Goose Liquor Store on Highway 21 in Atmore to purchase a 1993 Honda sedan for $1,000, according to an Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office report.
On June 20, law enforcement responded to 1004 Jo Jo Road in reference to a grand theft complaint by Larose, the report said.
Larose told law enforcement that he met Blair at the Grey Goose Liquor Store to exchange the vehicle for money and Blair handed him $1,000 in $50 bills. Larose said he placed his wallet on the passenger seat of the vehicle and began collecting the rest of his items from the car so he could give the vehicle to Blair, the report said.
Larose then returned to the vehicle to retrieve his wallet off the passenger seat and afterwards, Blair left with the vehicle. The following day, Larose began looking at the $50 bills Blair gave him and realized all of them were counterfeit. Larose stated to law enforcement that when he looked at the $50s the day before they were real and did not match the bills that were currently in his wallet. Larose stated when he took his personal items out of the sedan, Blair must have switched the real currency for the counterfeit currency, the report noted.
Larose told officers that Blair was adamant about his meeting Blair at the Florida and Alabama line and provided screen shots of the conversation between him and Blair. Larose identified Blair by his Facebook profile, identifying Blair as the individual Larose had met with the previous night.
The officers searched for Blair and contacted the Escambia County, Ala. Sheriff's office, who were able to provide Blair's date of birth and driver's license number which had a picture of Blair matching the description of the individual Larose has shown the officers, the report stated.
Blair was arrested Aug. 20 and charged with one count felony grand theft of $300 up to $5,000, one count felony grand theft of a motor vehicle and one county felony utter false bank note check draft, transported to the Escambia County Jail and given a bond of $7,500.
