Funny Money

Three N.C. residents face forgery charges after deputies say they used dozens of counterfeit $20 bills at Carowinds Saturday.

The three were arrested Saturday after witnesses identified them as using fake $20 bills at the amusement park's games that day, according to a York County Sheriff's Office Report.

Sharod Mitchell, 19, of Forest City; Arthiando Phillips, 21, of Shelby and Sarah Colon, 19, of Cherryville have each been charged with forgery and criminal conspiracy, sheriff's office documents show. All three remained in custody Sunday at the Moss Justice Center.

Deputies found $1,175 on the trio - much of it folded separately in sets of $15 to $19 as though it was change from a small purchase with a $20 bill, the report says.

Carowinds security had 37 fake $20 bills that had been spent at the park that day, and park officials expect there may be more.

A park employee noticed that the money looked odd and notified security, Carowinds spokeswoman Dani Swords said.

Security then tracked the trio through the park before calling police, Swords said.

"This is not something that happens often," Swords said. "We're happy an associate was (able) to detect it. ... We're glad we're able to catch people doing the wrong thing."

All three denied involvement in a scheme involving fake money, according to the report.

Two of the original bills that had been duplicated were among the found cash, the report says. Deputies also found evidence in Colon's car in the parking lot.

All three have been banned from Carowinds.

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Now, trying to pass bogus bills is really stupid to begin with ... but at an amusement park?