A high school student's project on phony money was a little too real.
The 18-year-old Hobbs High School government student created fake $1s, $5s, $10s and $20s by scanning real money into her home computer, then making a printout of the currency on regular-grade paper. It was part of a project on counterfeiting.She mounted her bills next to real money on a poster board and challenged other students to tell the difference, police said. They said she also handed out sample bills to her classmates.
"On her part, it was innocent," Police Capt. Mark Fritts said. "On the part of the people who had the money in their hands - knowing that it wasn't real money and passing the money - that's where the crime takes place."
Police said three high school boys have been questioned about the bills.