An arrest has been made in connection with the December 26 counterfeiting case in Duson.
Police say that tips were received from the public and they were alerted to a suspect coming into Duson. The suspect in the case used multiple counterfeit $20 bills at local truck stop casinos in the early morning hours of December 26. Video surveillance showed a man removing the counterfeit money from what appears to be a "very large stack of bills" in his truck.Read more here.
Following tips, the suspect's vehicle was spotted and stopped on Cameron Street near Richfield Road.
The primary suspect was identified as 46 year old Robert Domingue of Lafayette. As officers and deputies from the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office took Domingue into custody, they say a bag containing 13 grams of Methamphetamines fell from his shorts.
Domingue was transported to the Duson Police Station where he allegedly confessed to using counterfeit $20 bills in 3 separate locations in Duson. Domingue was booked in the Lafayette Parish Jail with Possession of Methamphetamines and a hold for Acadia Parish Jail.
Once transferred to the Acadia Parish Jail Domingue will face 14 counts of Monetary Instrument Abuse.
A passenger in Domingue's truck was identified as 53-year-old Silvano Vargus of California. He was allegedly found to be in possession of 15 grams of Methamphetamines as 9 MM handgun. Officers say they learned that Vargus has a previous attempted murder conviction in California and also is under a protective order which prohibits him from possessing firearms.
Vargus was charged with Felon in possession of a firearm, Violation of protective order by possessing a firearm and Possession of Methamphetamines.
Duson police say the total street value of the drugs found on both suspects is more than $5,000.00.
The investigation into the counterfeit money is continuing and additional arrests are expected. Vargus has not been ruled out as a potential suspect in that investigation.
