Operators of two Taco Bell eateries in upper Manhattan are accused of forcing underage workers to give counterfeit $20 bills to customers as change, The New York Post reported Saturday.
Annette Cirino is filing a class-action lawsuit in Manhattan federal court on behalf of her 17-year-old daughter, claiming the teen reported the accusations to police after being "manipulated" into distributing fake money while working behind the counter at both restaurants.
"The girl has been quite distraught since this happened," the family's lawyer, Richard Garbarini, told The New York Post, adding the suit will demand at least $5 million in real money damages.
He described the money as "terrible" copies slightly smaller than real $20 bills and said they were likely made on a laser-jet printer before they were run through a dryer to make them appear used.
The girl, identified as "J.A." in the lawsuit, had briefly worked this summer for the two Taco Bells.
According to the lawsuit, the scheme was pulled off by the restaurant accepting bigger bills like $50s and $100s, which many businesses have rules against. Then, the lawsuit alleges, cashier workers could pass back fake $20s, according to The Consumerist.
The girl was allegedly confronted by her bosses and accused of accidentally accepting two fake bills. She claims she was told she'd either have to pay it back out of her own paycheck or give the counterfeit cash to customers.
After two weeks, the girl refused to continue with the scheme, and was subsequently called into a meeting with four of her supervisors who told her undercover police officers were there to arrest her, according to the suit.
What the supervisors didn't know is that she was recording the meeting, as well as another conversation that supposedly catches her boss ordering her to hand out fake money.
She took the tapes and a fake bill to police as evidence after she began fearing for her freedom and safety, she said in the suit.
