PARIS – Three Oxford County juveniles were charged with aggravated forgery for allegedly passing counterfeit $20 bills in the Norway-Paris area.

Paris police Sgt. Michael B. Dailey said three bills have been recovered. At least six were passed.

The youths, aged 16 and 17, are from Albany Township, Otisfield and Harrison.

The juvenile from Otisfield was charged Tuesday by Norway police after one of the bills was passed at Cumberland Farms on Main Street.

The other two boys were questioned and taken into custody at the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, which is in the Paris jurisdiction.

Dailey said the juveniles used personally owned computer equipment to reproduce the passed bills.

When it was determined that multiple fake bills were being passed the U.S. Secret Service in Portland was contacted.

“As far as the Secret Service was concerned, the counterfeiting job was not so good,” Dailey said, “but they would pass at convenience stores.”

Cumberland Farms management reported the first counterfeit discovered on Tuesday. A picture of the suspect was taken by surveillance camera.

Due to the suspects youthful appearance, it was thought he could be a high school student.

Norway officer Harry Sims, the school resource officer, was contacted. He identified the youth, who confessed in an interview.

At that time it was believed only one counterfeit bill was in circulation.

On Wednesday, Oxford Bank in Oxford said it received a counterfeit from a deposit made by OHCHS.

Dailey said it was believed that the fake $20 bill was passed at the cafeteria.

“We questioned two kids today who were questioned as witnesses on Tuesday,” Dailey said. “They admitted participating.”

Dailey said the juveniles received summonses and were released to their guardians. Because of their age, they will not be prosecuted on a federal level.

“It could be just a restitution issue,” Dailey said. “It depends on Christopher Dillman, the juvenile case worker assigned to Oxford Hills.”

Aggravated forgery, a Class B crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Police believe three bills still in circulation have the serial numbers EE02613966B, BH82933994A and AG80131941* – with the last letter of that serial number unknown.

Anybody discovering a bill should contact police.

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