A Gainesville man faces forgery charges in four local jurisdictions after he was found in possession of several counterfeit $100 bills, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).
HCSO NARRATIVE:
“Da’rious Onterrio Smith, 21, was arrested Saturday…and remains in the Hall County Jail on $9,800 bond. He faces forgery charges from the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), the Flowery Branch Police Department, the Gainesville Police Department and the Oakwood Police Department.
Mr. Smith was taken into custody following a traffic stop on Old Cornelia Highway. HCSO patrol deputies were aware of a “be on the lookout” (BOLO) issued by the Flowery Branch Police Department for a Chevrolet Equinox seen at locations where counterfeit currency had been used recently. Two deputies observed the vehicle around 1 p.m. in the 2600 block of Old Cornelia Highway and conducted the traffic stop. Mr. Smith was driving the vehicle.
During the traffic stop, the deputies detected an odor of marijuana coming from the SUV and conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle. Deputies seized nine (9) counterfeit $100 bills along with 25 grams of marijuana (packaged for sale). They also located a loaded 40-calber pistol in the center console of the vehicle. As a result, Mr. Smith was charged by HCSO with nine (9) counts of forgery in the first degree, felony possession of marijuana and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
HCSO property crimes investigators continue their investigation in this case and additional charges are possible.”