Cheyenne Woman Charged With 2 Counts of Felony Forgery

A 33-year-old Cheyenne woman is facing felony forgery charges after police say she and another person used movie prop money to buy food at Taco Bell, then tried to pull the same stunt at McDonald's.

According to a booking sheet, police were called to a forgery at the McDonald's at 2535 E. Lincolnway at 2:56 p.m. on Sunday, March 16.

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Fake $20 Bills

Police say the shift manager told them that earlier in the day, around 2:13 p.m., two people walked into the restaurant and attempted to pay for their meal with two counterfeit $20 bills.

Police say these bills look almost identical to real bills except they say "For Motion Picture Use" on them.

Police say the suspects, later identified as Ricky Dougherty and Ruthie Kathleen Lawson through security camera footage, fled before they could arrive.

Police say the shift manager told them that when she reviewed camera footage of the incident, she saw Dougherty and Lawson walk across the street from the Taco Bell at 2500 E. Lincolnway.

Police then contacted the manager working at Taco Bell, who they say provided them with a receipt for a transaction at 1:53 p.m., where Dougherty and Lawson used a counterfeit $20 bill to buy $8.56 worth of food.

Police say employees at Taco Bell didn't know the bill was fake until they were notified by the shift manager at McDonald's.

Lawson Booked on Felony Warrant

On Friday, March 21, Lawson was transported to the Laramie County Detention Center and booked in on a felony warrant for probation violation.

Laramie County District Court Judge Peter H. Froelicher signed the warrant on Jan. 13, 2025.

Bond Set at $3K Cash

On March 26, Lawson was seen in Laramie County Circuit Court on two counts of felony forgery - utter, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison, up to a $10,000 fine, or both.

Lawson's bond was set at $3,000 cash and her preliminary hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, April 2, at 9 a.m.

As of Friday, March 28, no charges had been filed against Dougherty.

Please remember that all suspects are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.