A 45-year-old Tennessee woman had a novel excuse when she was arrested on Sunday for trying to use crude, counterfeit dollar bills at a local grocery store — blaming her actions on U.S. President Barack Obama.
Pamela Downs, of Kingsport, Tenn., was detained by police after two bills printed in black and white on regular copy paper were recovered from her person along with a receipt for a new printer and said copy paper. She claimed that a new law passed by Obama permitted her to print her own money since she was on a fixed income, reports the Kingsport Times News.
The police were first alerted after she tried to pay a local grocer with a homemade $5 bill. After searching Downs’ purse, police recovered a second $100 bill printed on computer paper with the two sides stuck together with glue (though one upside down).
During her police interview, Downs reportedly said, “I don’t give a ****, all these other bitches get to print money so I can too.” She also told officers that she read about the new law on the Internet.
The Times News reports that counterfeit bills totaling between $30,000 and $50,000 plus paper, scissors, glue and a printer were seized after her apartment was searched.
Downs was charged with criminal simulation and counterfeiting.