Club patrons accused of using bogus bills

Bartlett police have arrested three men -- one from Elgin -- on charges they tried to pass counterfeit bills at a country dance club.

Employees at the Cadillac Ranch at 1175 W. Lake St. told police they became suspicious when the men, looking nervous, tried to pass three $100 bills at the club, Bartlett police Det. Cmdr. Joe Leonas said.

When the workers held the bogus bills up to the light, police said, they saw the $5 Abraham Lincoln watermark instead of Benjamin Franklin's.

Club managers told police they followed the men into the bathroom and saw one of them flushing the "money" down the toilet.

Police recovered only the three bills used to pay the bar tab.

"We credit the staff of the Cadillac Ranch for being so alert and aware," Leonas said.

Arrested and charged with misdemeanor deceptive practice in the Sept. 29 incident were Carlos Anderson, 38, of 934 Cedar Ave., Elgin; Andre Brown, 47, of 809 N. Waller Ave., Chicago; and Excell Brown Jr., 39, of 8458 S. Constance Ave., Chicago.

The suspects wouldn't say where they got the bogus bills, police said.

Leonas said Bartlett police contacted the Secret Service but that the federal agency is allowing local prosecution on the case.

All three men were released on their own recognizance and have an Oct. 23 court date in Rolling Meadows.