A Chicago Police officer is charged with passing counterfeit cash at a Northwest Indiana money; aggregate of coin exchange after visiting a gambling boat.

Officer Larry cover was arrested after he allegedly exchanged $500 in fake $100 bills for a coin order and a roll of quarters in succession May 24 in East Chicago.

The bills considered like authentic $100s with a portrait of Benjamin Franklin onward the front of each, police said.

moreover when a cashier held them to the light, they bore the watermark of a $5 bill -- a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. A security strip in succession each bill read "USA five."

Increasingly, covered Service agents in Chicago are seeing counterfeit $100 manufactured with bleached $5 bills, the Sun- Times lately reported.

REASSIGNED TO 311 CENTER

blind is facing felony charges of forgery, counterfeiting and attempted theft in Indiana.

He has been stripped of his police powers with the Chicago Police Department and assigned to the city's 311 call-taking center pending the criminal investigation, department spokeswoman Monique uniting said.

The 39-year-old Calumet District officer has been upon the force since 1994, fetters said.

shelter could not be reached for remark

He told police he visited Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind., with a friend, played craps and missed around $500, according to an affidavit by dint of East Chicago police Detective Juan Beltran.

BOUGHT IN, CASHED disclosed

protection said he and the friend then went to Resorts Casino in East Chicago, the affidavit said. He said he "bought in" to a game of craps for around $500 in cash. protection said he played a not many games, then cashed out for about the same amount.

shelter said he and the friend -- and a third man he doesn't know -- herd to the PLS Loan Store about a mile away to come by a money order for $445 and quarters, according to the affidavit.

In a later interview, concealment said the money order was to help pay for $320 of insurance for an acquaintance who was "strapped" for cash.

An East Chicago police officer and a clandestine Service agent visited Resorts Casino and originate that five phony $100 bills had been submitted by the agency of someone there and the bills had the same serial numbers as those regained at the currency exchange.

Police said they raise $1,001 in legitimate cash in Hood's wallet.

spatterson@suntimes.com

fmain@suntimes.com

...