WESTBURY, NY – The Nassau County Police Electronic Squad’s Fraud and Forgery Section reports the arrest of a Westbury man in connection with an incident involving counterfeit currency that occurred on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at approximately 1:15 p.m., in Levittown.
According to detectives, an unknown male entered Famous Footwear – 3571 Hempstead Turnpike and purchased two pairs of shoes, paying with what appeared to be legitimate U.S. currency. It was later determined that the bills used in the transaction were counterfeit.
Investigators further determined that the same individual used counterfeit currency during a separate transaction at Famous Footwear – 1020 Old Country Road.
Following a thorough investigation, detectives arrested Richard Lopez, 32, of Lynwood Drive, in connection with the incidents. At the time of his arrest, Lopez was allegedly found to be in possession of additional counterfeit bills.
Lopez is charged with:
- Sixteen counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the First Degree
- Two counts of Petit Larceny
He was scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at First District Court, located in Hempstead.
Detectives ask anyone who believes they may have been the victim of a similar incident to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS (8477) or dial 911. All callers will remain anonymous.
Key Facts and Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Richard Lopez |
| Age | 32 |
| Residence | Westbury, New York |
| Incident Date | December 6, 2025 |
| Incident Time | Approximately 1:15 p.m. |
| Primary Location | Famous Footwear, 3571 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown |
| Secondary Location | Famous Footwear, 1020 Old Country Road, East Garden City |
| Alleged Offense | Use of counterfeit U.S. currency |
| Items Purchased | Two pairs of shoes |
| Investigating Unit | Nassau County Police Department – Electronic Squad, Fraud and Forgery Section |
| Arrest Outcome | Defendant arrested following investigation |
| Evidence Recovered | Additional counterfeit bills allegedly found at time of arrest |
| Top Charges | Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument 1st Degree (16 counts) |
| Additional Charges | Petit Larceny (2 counts) |
| Arraignment Court | First District Court |
| Arraignment Location | Hempstead, New York |
| Arraignment Date | January 1, 2026 |
| Public Tip Line | Nassau County Crime Stoppers – 1-800-244-TIPS |
| Case Status | Pending |
