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Man allegedly claimed potion could turn paper into money
A 22-year-old Savage man faces charges of theft by swindling after allegedly claiming he had a chemical potion that could transform plain white paper into U.S. currency.
Franklin T. Forlemu was scheduled to appear in Anoka County District Court on Monday for a hearing.
Police said Forlemu used a slight-of-hand trick to make it look like blank pieces of white paper were turned into $20 bills. A Coon Rapids grocery store owner fell for the trick and gave Forlemu about $70,000 in $100 bills, in hopes the money would be multiplied.
Instead, the store owner got only white paper, and his money was gone, according to the criminal complaint.
Police said they found the cash in Forlemu's apartment.
Bryan Lindberg, an Anoka County prosecutor for 20 years, said the scam "is the most creative one I have seen."
The chemical potion Forlemu used was actually water, said Coon Rapids Detective Dave Westberg.
Forlemu, an illegal immigrant from Africa, had no prior felony convictions and was released on personal recognizance. His public defender, Bryan Leary, said he needs to review the charges before commenting.
Westberg said the U.S. Secret Service did not file counterfeiting charges, but officials are watching the case.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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