Ross County Ohio — Authorities are investigating a counterfeit money report after a man successfully used a fake $100 bill to purchase reading glasses at the Pilot Travel Center on US-23 in Chillicothe.
The incident, which occurred late Monday night, has sparked an ongoing investigation by the Ross County Sheriff’s Office as they work to identify the suspect and determine if other local businesses have been targeted.
The Transaction
According to a supplemental narrative filed by Deputy Matthew Shipley on March 17, 2026, the manager of the Pilot Travel Center, Mark Johnson, reported the counterfeit currency after discovering the bill in the store’s till.
Store surveillance video from March 16 at 11:45 p.m. shows a clear sequence of events:
- The Suspect: Described as an older white male with a white beard, wearing a “CAT” (Caterpillar) branded hat.
- The Purchase: The man selected a pair of reading glasses valued at $16.00.
- The Deception: He handed the clerk a $100 bill. Video footage shows the clerk performing a standard security check with a counterfeit detector marker. In a sophisticated twist, the marker reportedly reacted as if the bill were actual U.S. currency, allowing the transaction to proceed.
The Trail Goes Cold at “Moe’s”
After receiving $84.00 in legitimate change, the suspect was seen on video walking toward the Moe’s Southwest Grill located within the travel center. It is confirmed he purchased food there, though it is currently unknown what form of payment he used at that register.
Investigators are still working to determine how the man left the property, as there was no immediate visual on a vehicle.
Evidence and Next Steps
The $100 bill has been seized as evidence and transported to the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) for further testing. Police believe the bill may be a high-quality “washed” note—where a lower denomination bill is chemically stripped and reprinted with a $100 design—which would explain why it bypassed the clerk’s detector pen.
Suspect Description:
- Race/Gender: White Male
- Age: Older (Senior)
- Distinguishing Features: White beard
- Clothing: “CAT” hat
The Sheriff’s Office is awaiting a digital copy of the surveillance footage to release to the public.
