BEMIDJI, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) — An 18-year-old from LaPorte is charged after a counterfeit cash report at a Bemidji store.
J. Schafbuch, 18, is charged with gross misdemeanor counterfeiting of currency. The charge alleges uttering or possessing counterfeit bills.
Schafbuch is also charged with misdemeanor, giving a peace officer a false name or birthdate.
All details below are allegations from the criminal complaint.
Counterfeit report at Menards
The complaint says the incident happened on Jan. 6, 2026.
Police were called around 12:54 p.m., according to the filing.
The call came from Menards in Bemidji on Paul Bunyan Drive NW.
Officers located a male in aisle 3, the complaint states.
The male had an envelope with several $20 bills, police said.
Officers believed the bills were counterfeit, according to the filing.
The complaint says the suspect’s hands were shaking during the contact.
False identity claim
The complaint says the suspect gave a false name to the police.
He allegedly said his name was “Thomas Parker Nelson.”
He also allegedly gave a false date of birth.
Dispatch could not confirm that identity, the complaint states.
Police detained him and later confirmed his true identity, the filing says.
The story changed about the money
The complaint says Schafbuch first denied knowing the bills were fake.
He allegedly claimed he got the cash during a vehicle sale in Park Rapids.
The complaint says he later changed his story.
He allegedly said he got the bills in a shoe deal in the Twin Cities.
The counterfeit bills were seized as evidence, the complaint states.
Bail set and case status
Court records list bail at $0 with conditions or $3,000 without conditions.
The order requires law-abiding behavior and future court appearances.
The order requires attorney contact, according to the filing.
The order also lists a no-contact provision with victims.
The complaint says Schafbuch has prior cases, including theft and fleeing.
The case was filed on Jan. 7, 2026, court records show.
The alleged offense date is Jan. 6, 2026.
Law and public records
The counterfeiting statute is Minnesota Statute 609.632.
The false name statute is Minnesota Statute 609.506.
Minnesota court records can be searched on MCRO. Use the public case search portal.
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)
A criminal charge is not proof of guilt.
Schafbuch is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Bemidji Police Department information is posted by the City of Bemidji.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.