Man, woman charged with forging skill game tickets, getting cash from Pottsville business
May 16—POTTSVILLE — A man was arrested by Pottsville police after an incident occurred at Six One Vapor, 320 W. Market St.
Police said officers were called to the business around 3:10 p.m. May 1 for a report of a man who forged over $800 in tickets from the skill machines.
Police Chief John R. Morrow said the owners of the business reported that the man was in the store on April 26 and that there were two forged tickets from their skill machines redeemed for $830.
While conducting an internal audit and checking receipts of the skill games, the owners noticed two tickets — one for $365; the other for $465 — looked different than the others.
Morrow said a subsequent internal investigation of the machines' history determined tickets of those values were never printed and cashed.
The audit did show that one ticket valued at $3 and one at $1 were printed April 26 but were never cashed in.
Morrow said that further examination of the bogus tickets showed the fonts were faded and appeared to be erased.
The $365 ticket was printed over the $3 ticket, while the $465 ticket was printed over the $1 ticket, the chief said.
The business' security images showed a white man with tattoos on both arms, later identified as Shawn Sukeena, 46, at the machine where the $3 and $1 tickets were printed.
Morrow also said the footage shows Sukeena placing the tickets in his pocket, leaving the store without redeeming them and then returning later when he presented one of the fraudulent tickets and received a cash payment.
Patrolman Stephen M. Delinko charged Sukeena with two felony counts of forgery; and two misdemeanor counts each of theft and receiving stolen property.
The investigation determined that Sukeena had an active warrant for his arrest and may be staying at 105 Westwood St., Minersville, where he was later taken into custody with the assistance of Minersville police.
Prior to making contact with Sukeena, officers saw a silver Dodge pickup truck parked near the residence and knew it was owned by Sukeena because of prior incidents, according to Morrow.
The registration plate on the truck came back to a different vehicle, but the vehicle identification number confirmed the pickup was owned by Sukeena.
Morrow said officers were able to see into the truck's back seat through tinted windows and saw a printer there.
Information learned up to that time included that the suspect may have had a printer he used to produce fake tickets in the back seat of his vehicle.
Sukeena was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, who set bail at $20,000 unsecured, due to the active warrant from state parole agents.
A preliminary hearing for Sukeena is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. Monday before Reiley, court paper say.
Officers said they later discovered from Six One Vapor that there was video of a woman also redeeming fraudulent skill game tickets on April 26 prior to Sukeena's actions.
The subsequent investigation revealed that the woman was Dionne "DeeDee" Harris, 40, no hometown listed.
Morrow said Harris was contacted and subsequently admitted to being Sukeena's accomplice, using fake skill game tickets to obtain $465.
Delinko then charged Harris with one felony count of conspiracy to commit forgery; and one misdemeanor count of theft and receiving stolen property.
She was also arraigned by Reiley but released on unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing for Harris is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. Monday before Reiley, court papers say.
Morrow said his department is reminding all skill game owners to double check the tickets of anyone redeeming them because forging those is becoming common.
Contact the writer: fandruscavage@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6013
