Cops: Driver found with counterfeit cash, drugs in East Meadow

A Uniondale man was arrested and charged with fraud and a variety of other crimes after police found counterfeit cash and marijuana in his vehicle during a traffic stop early Saturday, police said.

Andre D. Johnson, 23, was driving a 2012 Nissan southbound on Merchants Concourse in East Meadow at 4:10 a.m. without headlights on, Nassau County police said in a news release, prompting a Third Precinct officer to pull him over in the 1800 block of Privado Road.

The officer noticed “a strong odor of marijuana” during the stop, police said, and Johnson, along with a female passenger, 21, were removed from the vehicle. A “clear bag containing a brown/green leafy substance” belonging to Johnson was found by the officer, police said.

The officer also found Johnson in possession of “multiple” counterfeit $20 bills, according to the news release.

Johnson was taken into custody without incident and no injuries were reported, police said.

Johnson is charged with four counts of first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, four counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, two counts of possession of marijuana, aggravated unlicensed operator and various violations of state vehicle and traffic law, the news release states. He was scheduled to be arraigned Sunday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Attorney information for Johnson was not immediately available.