Woman goes on shopping spree at Red Cliffs Mall with counterfeit money

Stock image | St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A 57-year-old woman was arrested Monday after reportedly going on a shopping spree in Washington County using counterfeit money.

Melanie Jane Shatto, of Las Vegas, Nevada, booking photo posted May 8, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

Officers responded to the Red Cliffs Mall at 1770 E. Red Cliffs Drive on a counterfeiting complaint at the Bliss clothing store, according to a probable cause statement filed by the St. George Police Department in support of the arrest.

A woman, identified by police as Melanie Jane Shatto, of Las Vegas, Nevada, had paid for her items at Bliss with a counterfeit $100 bill, according to the statement.

“Melanie (Shatto) stated that she passed the bill, but did not know it was fake,” the arresting officer wrote in a sworn statement. “Melanie had bags with clothing from JC Penny and Dillards.”

Upon further investigation, police learned that Shatto had also passed counterfeit bills at J.C. Penney and Dillards located in the mall, the report stated.

While investigating, police found a receipt in Shatto’s possession for Home Depot located at 725 W. Telegraph Street in Washington City. Police responded to Home Depot and collected another counterfeit $100 bill that had been passed by Shatto earlier that day.

Shatto maintained she didn’t know the bills were counterfeit and then requested an attorney, according to the statement.

Shatto was arrested and transported to the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.

The Washington County Attorney’s Office filed an information in 5th District Court accusing Shatto of four third-degree felony counts of forgery.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2017, all rights reserved.

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4 Comments

  • Rainbow Dash May 10, 2017 at 4:09 pm

    My guess is she’s going to get slapped with thousands of dollars in court costs, fines, and spend YEARS in jail because she passed a few fake bills.

    Meanwhile…..Down in Hildale…..

    • Rainbow Dash May 10, 2017 at 4:11 pm

      I’m not condoning it, I’m just saying…..

      • Anejo May 11, 2017 at 2:45 pm

        Maybe should claim that her religious liberties have been infringed upon? Smacked wrists for time served?

  • utahdiablo May 10, 2017 at 10:00 pm

    Hey if she’s FLDS she’s in the clear….next!

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