2 women plead guilty in plot to spend fake $100 bills in Irvine

Two women have pleaded guilty to conspiring to spend counterfeit $100 bills at stores around Irvine.

Tawny Chandler, 20, and Niresha Collins, 26, drove to three restaurants and a Carter’s children’s clothing store in April and tried to pass off the money as legitimate, according to court documents.

The Orange County district attorney’s office charged both of them with one count of conspiracy, five counts of burglary and five counts of possession of counterfeit bills.

Chandler pleaded guilty on May 20 to the conspiracy charge and Collins pleaded guilty to conspiracy and one count of possession of counterfeit bills. Prosecutors dropped the other charges.

An Orange County Superior Court judge sentenced Chandler to three years’ probation and Collins to 16 months in state prison.

Prosecutors also dropped three misdemeanor counts against Collins alleging hit and run, evading a police officer and resisting arrest. Police had said she tried to drive off when officers closed in but quickly stopped after crashing the car.

According to prosecutors, Collins typically waited in the car while Chandler tried to spend the counterfeit money.

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

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck