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| Mitchell (left) and Buchanan are accused of using fake money to buy a used computer…but that’s only the beginning. |
A Lakeview man’s attempt to sell an old computer online turned into quite the adventure Sunday evening in Wrigleyville. Before it all ended, police would summon the Secret Service and authorities would allegedly recover guns, thousands of dollars in fake currency, a stolen car, and more.
The victim used the “LetGo” app to arrange a computer sale with 28-year-old Derick Mitchell and 18-year-old Brianna Buchanan, police said. But when the duo showed up to make the exchange in the 600 block of West Addison around 8 p.m., they handed over $120 in counterfeit cash, according to charges.
Police were called and cops caught up with Mitchell and Buchanan near the Wrigleyville Taco Bell. The victim identified them as the people who turned over the fake bills.
That’s when things got very interesting. Police learned that Mitchell and Buchanan’s car had been reported stolen in Franklin Park. It turns out that the owner of the car arranged to sell it on Craigslist. Only later did he learn that the money he received for his car was counterfeit, police said.
Two pills were recovered from the driver’s seat where Mitchell was sitting. In his wallet, cops found two $100 bills, they said. They were both later found to be counterfeit.
Cops impounded the stolen car and took Mitchell and Buchanan to the police station for a meeting with the Secret Service. A search of the car turned up $3,349 in counterfeit currency of various denominations, police said. Some of the bogus bills had the same serial number as the money in Mitchell’s wallet, they said. Two handguns were also allegedly found in the car.
Mitchell, who lives in Humboldt Park, is charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor theft by deception while the state and federal investigations continue, according to police records.
Buchanan, of the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, was charged with misdemeanor theft by deception and was released on a recognizance bond.
Mitchell was free on $5,000 bond while awaiting trial for aggravated fleeing from police when the counterfeiting case went down. Judge Adam Bourgeois held Mitchell without bail for violating the terms of bail in the pending case.
