Jul 10, 2014 3 min read

North Strabane Township police have obtained arrest warrants for two people suspected of passing counterfeit money at a Strabane bar in April.

Mary Elizabeth Hall, 32, of Canonsburg, and Edward Leon Boone, 30, whose last known addresses were in Houston and Latrobe, are accused of passing fake $20 and $50 bills on April 26 at B&B Tavern on Latimer Avenue. Police said Hall, Boone and Kristin Michele Steffan, 30, of Washington, also are suspected of passing the phony money at several businesses in Canton and North Franklin townships and Washington.

North Strabane police Detective John Wybranowski said it was during a quick-change scam that Hall and Boone used the counterfeit money. He said they reportedly went into the bar about midnight and asked for change for a $50 bill.

Hall then returned and asked for change for two $20 bills. Then, they allegedly asked for change for another $50 bill. An employee of the bar later discovered two of the bills were bogus. Hall and Boone were caught on surveillance video inside the bar, making the exchange, police said.

The detective said he did not know how the two obtained the counterfeit bills. Wybranowski obtained warrants from District Judge Jay Weller on charges of conspiracy, theft and forgery.

State police charged Boone and Steffan with forgery and theft by deception for allegedly passing two counterfeit $20 bills at Exxon, 1297 W. Chestnut St., Canton. Police said Boone is seen on video surveillance handing the clerk the bills. Steffan reportedly handed Boone the money and told him to get change. A warrant has been issued for Boone’s arrest in that case by District Judge David Mark. Steffan was ordered held for court after a preliminary hearing in May.

North Franklin and Washington police said they also intend to bring charges against the three.

North Franklin police Sgt. Dean Urbanic said counterfeit money was passed at the McDonald’s on West Chestnut Street. City police Detective Dan Rush said counterfeit bills were passed at the McDonald’s on Jefferson Avenue, and an attempt was made at Pickle’s bar in the city’s West End.

Steffan was arraigned Wednesday on charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and driving with a suspended license filed by Washington police, who allege that she almost struck her son and a state constable with her vehicle near a day-care facility at 161 W. Beau St. May 23. The constable reportedly tried to block her vehicle with his car.

Steffan is in Washington County jail on $10,000 bond, in addition to being held on bench warrants.