In early December 2024, Polk County Sheriff’s deputies began investigating reports of counterfeit bills at businesses in a south Lakeland shopping plaza. Deputies identified 32-year-old Jean Armand of Tampa as a suspect. He was later arrested. Armand told deputies he received the counterfeit bills from friends in Mulberry. These individuals were identified as 25-year-old Quinece Staton-Langley and 24-year-old Beyonce Bettyce Staton.
On December 7, deputies found a gray Kia SUV in Bartow. Inside were Quinece Staton-Langley, Beyonce Staton, and two children. Deputies found a counterfeit $20 bill and a receipt from a Mulberry Taco Bell with one of the children. Investigators determined that the same child had used counterfeit $20 bills at a Dollar General, Taco Bell, and a pizza restaurant earlier that day.
The child told deputies that Beyonce Staton and Quinece Staton-Langley provided the counterfeit bills and instructed the children to make small purchases and return the change. Both adults denied these allegations and said they were looking for jobs at the businesses…