California Mother and Daughter Duo Caught Passing Counterfeit Cash and Meth in Southern Oregon Sting

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — Responding to reports of counterfeit $20 bills presented as payment at several local businesses, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) White City deputies arrested a California duo, Samantha Jo Ann O’Neil, 42, and her daughter, Jamie Aileen O’Neil, 18, both of Walnut Grove, on Saturday.

Counterfeit bills were found in their possession and the mother had meth and paraphenalia on her person.

California Mother & Daughter Arrested In Oregon For Passing Counterfeit Bills

Reports received by JSCO at around 8:30 AM on Saturday indicated that an unidentified woman in an orange sweatshirt passed counterfeit $20 bills at several White City businesses.

Surveillance footage showed a silver 2005 Toyota Camry with a California license plate, which was linked to the suspects. JSCO deputies found the car unoccupied in the Medford Hobby Lobby parking lot at 10:05 AM.

After surveilling the Camry for a period, deputies arrested the O’Neil duo as they approached the car and served a search warrant on the suspects’ car. Several counterfeit bills were found in the Camry, including printed sheets of uncut counterfeit money.

The mother, Samantha, also had 7.2 grams of methamphetamine and a meth pipe concealed on her person,

So far, the Medford Hobby Lobby and the White City locations of Dutch Bros., McDonald’s, and Starbucks have identified the O’Neils, but- as they had traveled from Lodi, California on Wednesday, April 23, and deputies suspect there are more victims from Oregon to Lodi, California along their way.

The two O’Neills were taken into custody and lodged in the Jackson County Jail. They were charged with three counts of first-degree forgery, three counts of third-degree theft as well as 10 counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, and three counts of criminal possession of a forgery device. Samantha was also charged with unlawful possession of meth.