Counterfeit suspect cooperating with Trenton Police; ATF now interested

TRENTON. Georgia(WDEF) – A suspect captured in what has been described as a major counterfeiting operation is now cooperating with investigators.

Just two days after Cornelius Phillips, 20, of Alabama was captured by Trenton police inside a CVS store, he is now giving investigators more information about three other suspects who got away.

CVS surveillance video of Cornelius Phillips giving a store clerk fake money

News 12 obtained security surveillance video that shows Phillips, and two other suspects inside the store just before he attempted to purchase an item with a fake $50 bill. The fourth suspect was not in the video but police believe she was nearby.

“There are indicators that show these people have been arrested for this before and they are showing that they do know what they are doing as far as passing this money. They’re operating as a team and they’re pretty good at getting away with it,” said Trenton Detective Tim Mitchell.

Soon after the clerk scanned the bill and realized it was fake, police were called. The video showed the clerk holding a casual conversation with Phillips until police could arrive.

When officer Steve Beaudoin walked into the store, the video showed the clerk handing him the fake money. the video then shows officer Beaudoin questioning Phillips before searching him.

During the search, officer Beaudoin located $4,500 worth of fake $50 bills. Phillips is then seen in the video turning around and preparing to be handcuffed when he makes a run for the front door.

Phillips running from Sgt. Steve Beaudoin

“We attempted to arrest him and he attempted to run. We tackled him at the door. He got back loose again so we tackled him a second time in the parking lot with another officer and a bystander,” Beaudoin said.

The other two suspects who were in the store managed to escape. Investigators believe they ran to a get away vehicle and drove back to Alabama.

“During the interview, that’s what the suspect that we have in custody told us. He told us the other people were headed back to the Huntsville area,” Mitchell said.

Authorities now believe there’s a chance the other suspects are the same people arrested with Phillips last year in Huntsville Alabama. During that arrest Phillips and several other people were accused of taking part in a counterfeiting operation that involved fake $50 bills.

News 12 has also learned ATF agents out of Huntsville are interested in this Trenton Georgia case against Phillips and the other suspects because it may be related to another case involving an illegal firearm.

The U.S. Secret Service is usually the agency that handles counterfeiting crimes but right now it’s unclear if they will take over the investigation.

In the wake of the counterfeit bust by Trenton police, merchants in Trenton are being asked to carefully examine all cash they receive.