Richfield property manager allegedly printed counterfeit money to repay tenants

RICHFIELD, Minn. (KMSP) - A Richfield, Minn. property manager is accused of repaying his tenants with counterfeit cash. Police said they’re investigating at least a half-dozen cases in Richfield, Eagan, and Edina where the property manager was allegedly printing his own money and giving it to elderly and vulnerable tenants.

“The last couple of months have been a little bit of hell,” one tenant, who would like to remain anonymous, told Fox 9. “A lot going on around here."

She’s called Greenbriar Terrace her home for the last few years, but said her former property manager went from taking care of his tenants to taking advantage of them.

"This is bad. This is all bad. In no shape, form, or fashion. No tenant should have to go through this,” she said.

The woman said Michael Large gave her counterfeit money late last year, and when she tried to use it at a local business, an employee threatened to call the cops.

Police said Large did the same thing to at least three other tenants, including giving $180 in fake bills to an elderly man as payment to buy his 1984 Trans Am. He also gave $250 in counterfeit cash to a vulnerable adult to repay a loan she had given him.

"I don't know if I consider him a good guy right now. He has done some bad things to some really good people,” she said.

Police raided Large’s apartment late last month and seized computers, scanners, and printers, as well as some meth. After that, the property management company fired Large and changed the locks in case he tried to return.

"Over this year, something went bad and went bad fast and he want down fast and quickly but he was not always like this,” the woman said.

The fake bills all had the same serial numbers, were missing the security thread and watermarks, and were discolored, police said.

His former tenants hope Large gets some time in jail to consider what he’s done -- "For him to take advantage of senior citizens and vulnerable adults, and me personally, is not right and he need to be held accountable for his actions,” the woman said.

Large has been charged with possession of meth but was released on bail pending further investigation. Richfield police said the counterfeit case has been turned over to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for review, but so far no charges have been filed.