Two Storm Lake men have been arrested for allegedly passing and possessing at least five counterfeit $100 bills. On Wednesday morning, the Storm Lake Police Department was notified by a local convenience store that there had been four of these bills passed at their station. Authorities reviewed video surveillance footage and identified a suspect, but within the hour, another call came in from a liquor store that the person of interest was at that location. Police arrested 25-year-old Ervin Dewalt, and during the process, located another counterfeit bill that matched a serial number of ones used earlier in the day. The investigation uncovered another suspect, 27-year-old Dennis Williams, who was located and taken into custody Wednesday afternoon. Dewalt has been charged with two counts of forgery, class D felonies, and one count of money laundering, a class C felony. Williams has been charged with one count of forgery and one count of money laundering. In addition, Williams was wanted on a Buena Vista County warrant for a second-offense public intoxication charge that was in violation of his probation. Both men were booked into the Buena Vista County jail and Dewalt is being held on a $20,000 bond and Williams on a $12,000 bond. Two vehicles were also seized during the investigation and search warrants have been requested. Authorities are encouraging all Storm Lake area businesses to check their cash drawers for $100 bills bearing the serial number HB21212520 J. An investigation is ongoing.
