Counterfeit money leads to Tampa man's arrest

TAMPA - When 38-year-old Randall Izquierdo-Cardenas handed over $140,000 in fake money to undercover detectives, Sheriff's Office deputies said, he intended to get a kilogram of cocaine. Instead, he got a trip to jail.

Izquierdo-Cardenas of 6420 Coolidge Ave. (pictured) was arrested Thursday afternoon during a drug deal with undercover officers at a north Tampa Wal-Mart, 8220 N Dale Mabry Highway, according to an arrest affidavit. When officers searched his home, they found equipment used to print the counterfeit cash, according to the affidavit.

Undercover officers met with Izquierdo-Cardenas twice before. The first time, Sept. 22, he exchanged $2,790 in counterfeit cash for $200 in real money, an affidavit states. On Sept. 29, he sold the officers $1,180 in fake bills for $100 in real ones, the affidavit says.

He faces three counts of possessing counterfeit money, one count of making counterfeit money and one count of cocaine possession. He was taken to the Hillsborough County Jail, where he remains without bail.

Kim Wilmath, Times Staff Writer

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