When police got to the hotel, they found evidence of a makeover: George Washington was becoming Benjamin Franklin.

Federal and local authorities early Monday morning broke up a high-tech cash-counterfeiting operation that was doctoring $1 bills into $100 bills, and arrested four people, police said.

Oakley investigators developed information about the counterfeiting and tracked it to an Antioch motel, Oakley police Chief Chris Thorsen said.

They contacted the Secret Service, which accompanied police to the Ramada Inn on Mahogany Way, where they uncovered an outfit employing computer imaging and chemical washing to convert the bills, Thorsen said. Authorities arrested Zane Covington, 31; Kasey Gordon, 21; Ward Hoye, 25; and Jesse Zupanic, 21, all on suspicion of conspiracy and counterfeiting.

All four are from Contra Costa County. Police said Gordon was released, and the other three suspects were booked into County Jail in Martinez. Thorsen said the case likely will be transferred to federal authorities for prosecution because counterfeiting is a federal offense.

Investigators are still determining the value of what the suspects had produced when they were arrested, Thorsen said. He said an unknown number of bills already have been circulated.


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