An Allentown pair are jailed in a forgery ring that included counterfeiting thousands and spending the phony cash at stores spanning five counties, according to police.

Charged are Tim Lee Priest, 33, of the 100 block of and Tabitha Ortiz, 33, both of the 100 block of South Bradford Street in Allentown.

Two other alleged accomplices are named in court records, but are yet to be charged. Bethlehem police at 7:35 p.m. July 31 received a call from a Walgreens employee at the store, 2979 Linden Street, who reported a man later identified as Priest attempted to pass five counterfeit $20 bills.

Priest allegedly was using the phony bills to buy prepaid debit cards. Investigators reviewed store surveillance footage to obtain a description on Priest. At 12:40 p.m. Aug. 1, Priest — known to Bethlehem police as being an alleged drug dealer — was stopped while driving a silver Kia with Ortiz as a passenger. Police searched the Kia and seized the following: numerous receipts from stores for purchases of prepaid debit cards an gift cards; various gift cards; counterfeit U.S. currency and methamphetamine.

Also found were seven counterfeit $20 bills, as well as an authentic $20 bill in Priest’s possession and more gift cards, receipts and counterfeit bills were found in Ortiz’s purse.

Court records show the pair were successful in buying more than $2,000 worth of items and received more than $1,325 in cash as change for the phony bills at Walmart, Staples, Giant and Walgreens stores. The forgery began on April 22 and spanned stores at Northampton, Lehigh, Bucks, Montgomery and Carbon counties.

Court records list the merchandise obtained included gift cards and prepaid debit card, food, toiletries, clothing, BB gun accessories, printer tape, earbuds and tools. Store managers and asset protection employees from the stores then worked with police to provide store surveillance footage of the suspects.

A cellphone seized during Priest’s Aug. 1 arrest included a screenshot photo of a Target store’s policy on confrontations involving counterfeit money, as well as several photos of suspected drugs being weighed on scales, court records state.

Police said found on the cellphone also was communication among members of the forgery ring about printing counterfeit money and communication with Priest and others about drug sales. Both Priest and Ortiz also have prior criminal records.

Police said Priest was the suspect in a forgery investigation in March and has had multiple arrests for felony drug violations and DUI. Ortiz has had multiple arrests for retail theft, as well as a felony drug violation, providing police with false identification, forgery and theft, according to police.

Both Priest and Ortiz are each charged with 64 counts of felony forgery, 64 counts of felony criminal conspiracy to commit forgery, one count felony criminal conspiracy to commit theft, and one count possession of an instrument of crime.

Both were arraigned Friday before District Judge James Narlesky, who set bail at $250,000 each. In lieu of bail, both Priest and Ortiz were sent to jail. Court records show Priest is being held at the Lehigh County jail and Ortiz is being held at Northampton County Prison.

Distributed by The Associated Press