GREENWICH VILLAGE — Two men used counterfeit bills to pay for drinks and got real cash as their change at three bars in the Village, police said.
Police said Eddie Ashley and Joseph Fernandez, both 21, used fake money at three bars on Bleecker Street on March 6.
They hit 1849 Restaurant at 183 Bleecker St. first at about 11 p.m., police said. But when the bartender questioned them about the money, they took off running.
Next they dropped into Carroll Place at 157 Bleecker St., bought two drinks each, totaling about $80, police said, and got change in real cash.
Then at 12:01 a.m., police said, they went into Red Lion at 151 Bleecker St. and used the counterfeit bills to pay for a cover charge and coat check.
Ashley and Fernandez were arrested at Red Lion where an officer found cocaine in the right arm pocket of Ashley's coat, police said. They found the forged currency on both of them.
Police said Ashley had $120 and Fernandez had $360, all in counterfeit $20 bills.
Ashley was charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument in the first degree, a felony, and misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance. He is being held in jail on $15,000 bail, according to court records, and is due back in court on June 26.
His attorney did not immediately respond to a voicemail left for comment.
Fernandez was charged with felony possession of a forged instrument in the first degree. He is also being held in jail, according to court records: A judge set his bail at $3,500 bond or $2,500 cash, which he did not post. He is due back in court on June 11.
His attorney did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.
Managers at 1849 Restaurant, Carroll Place and Red Lion did not immediately respond to voicemail messages and emails requesting comment.
Check out DNAinfo.com New York's 6th Precinct Blotter map below to see where other crimes have been reported around Greenwich Village. The most recent incidents are marked with yellow flags.
