Placer County Sheriff's deputies arrested two out-of-state men in Colfax Thursday who have been passing counterfeit money throughout several western states.

Employees at the Riebe’s Auto Parts store in Colfax called 911 at 12:30 p.m. when the men attempted to pass a counterfeit $20 bill there. The clerk was able to determine that the bill was counterfeit by visual inspection. The suspects fled in a Ford Taurus. Deputy Ed Leighton set up on Interstate 80 and soon spotted the suspect vehicle. Once Leighton stopped the vehicle, the driver, Michael Thomas Barker, 36, of Las Vegas, provided false identification.

Inside the car, deputies located 50 counterfeit $20 bills. Also found was evidence that the pair had passed fake money in Colorado, Nevada and Utah. Deputy Andrew Buchannan went to two Colfax businesses and by viewing surveillance video, was able to find the fake bills had just been passed there.

Deputy Greg McKenzie determined that Barker was lying about his identity and was able to establish his true identity. The second suspect, Mario Gene Martinez, 41, of Colorado, was booked at the Placer County Jail on charges of burglary, counterfeiting and conspiracy. His bail is set at $10,000. Barker was arrested for counterfeiting, burglary, identity theft, conspiracy and giving false information to a peace officer. Barker is being held without bail due to the fact that he’s a fugitive from justice in Nevada and was also wanted on a felony warrant from Orange County for vehicle theft.

With counterfeiting on the rise, businesses are urged to use counterfeit detection methods when accepting cash from customers.