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SALT LAKE CITY -- Nine residents of a Salt Lake-area halfway house are facing new charges in an investigation into counterfeit bus and light-rail passes.
UTA spokesman Gerald Carpenter said police, acting on a tip, served a search warrant at the Bonneville Community Correctional Center in Salt Lake City. "We received authorization from the Department of Corrections to search the premises," Carpenter said. "At that point we found sufficient evidence to file charges for forgery."
Five fake passes were found. Although they're valued at about $70 each, Carpenter said the residents face felony charges. "It's very important for us as a transit agency to investigate and prosecute this type of activity," Carpenter said.
Benjamin Pilling, 34; John Perry, 31; Jerome Mclanahan, 39; Brad Young, 29; Justin Lundell, 28; Larry Bates, 30; Jeremy John, 30; and Tony Allred, 29, all face third-degree felony fraud charges.
Police have not released the name of the ninth suspect, who they say is currently cooperating with the investigation.
Carpenter said some of the suspects were involved in making the passes; others had purchased them.
The seized passes were convincing. "It was close enough that at a glance if it wasn't examined closely might pass as a real pass," Carpenter said. He said UTA takes steps to avoid counterfeiting.
E-mail: mgiauque@ksl.com
