Chalmette man booked with monetary instrument abuse for passing counterfeit currency

Several of the fake bills seized in the counterfeit money investigation.

Sgt. Steve Guillot with a printer seized in the Kruse counhterfeit bill investigation.

Elbert Kruse, 31, booked with making and passing counterfeit bills

A Chalmette man believed to be systematically passing counterfeit $20 and $10 bills in Chalmette stores and the French Quarter in New Orleans has been arrested and printing devices and numerous fake bills were seized, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Elbert Kruse, 31, who lives on Chalona Drive, was booked Jan. 29 with monetary instrument abuse and with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

He is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison pending an appearance before a judge to have bond set. Kruse has several past arrests for marijuana possession.

The sheriff said authorities have been receiving reports from store officials about small amounts of counterfeit bills being passed.

“It’s good work to arrest someone like this who obviously has no concern about business owners he may hurt financially,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

One Chalmette store reported receiving a counterfeit bill on Jan. 29, which led to sheriff’s detectives developing information implicating Kruse, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

During the investigation, printing devices were seized and several hundred dollars in fake $20 and $10 bills were recovered, along with trimmings left from where he had made other bills, the sheriff said.