A 35-year-old Adairsville man is facing serious charges after allegedly using counterfeit currency to pay for a vehicle during a private sale, according to local authorities.
Around 11:09 a.m. on June 5, police were dispatched to a residence following a report of suspected theft involving fraudulent payment. The victim told officers she had entered into a civil agreement with a friend to sell her 2004 Jeep Cherokee for $1,500. The agreement allowed for payments over time, with the understanding that the vehicle’s title would be transferred once full payment was made.
According to the report, the buyer—accompanied by Russell Dan Evans, 35, of Adairsville—arrived at the victim’s home on the day of the incident. The victim stated that Evans informed her they had arrived to complete the transaction. She met them outside, accepted a $600 payment, and handed over the vehicle’s title.
Shortly after the exchange, the victim discovered that $500 of the $600 consisted of counterfeit $100 bills. She immediately contacted Evans, who denied the money was fake. The victim later showed police messages exchanged with Evans through Facebook Messenger, where he sent photos of the money—but only of the one $100 bill that was genuine.
Russell Dan Evans has been identified as the suspect in the case and is now charged with first-degree forgery. Police collected the $500 in counterfeit bills, which have been submitted as evidence and placed in evidence locker H004.
