2 women accused of trying to spend fake $100 bills in Irvine

Police arrested two of women accused of trying to spend counterfeit $100 bills at businesses around Irvine and then fleeing when authorities caught on to the scam, according to court documents.

The Orange County district attorney’s office alleges in a criminal complaint that Tawny Chandler, 20, and Niresha Collins, 26, drove to Irvine on April 3 with the intent of spending the forged money.

They are believed to have tried to use the counterfeit bills at Pick Up Stix, Round Table Pizza and Chipotle restaurants and a Carter’s children’s clothing store, according to the complaint.

Prosecutors charged both women with one count of conspiracy, five counts of second-degree burglary and five counts of possessing or making counterfeit money — all felonies.

They also charged Collins with misdemeanor counts of evading a police officer, hit-and-run and resisting arrest.

Prosecutors allege that Chandler would go into a business and attempt a transaction while Collins waited in the car.

Police responded to a report about the fake money at a business near the 13300 block of Jamboree Road, authorities said.

Chandler and Collins “fled the scene, but after a very short distance they crashed their car and were taken into custody,” Irvine police spokeswoman Farrah Emami said.

According to court documents, Collins was convicted of robbery in Los Angeles County in 2010.

Chandler is free on $25,000 bail, according to jail records. Collins is still behind bars with bail set at $100,000.