7:58 AM, May. 8, 2011

http://www.app.com/article/CN/20110507/NJNEWS/305070017/Metuchen-cops-Suspect-tried-launder-money?odyssey=nav|head

METUCHEN — A woman was arrested Thursday after police found more than $70,000 in suspected drug money in her vehicle outside of a bank where she tried to launder some of the cash, officials said.

Elisa Goddison, 25, of Asbury Park pulled up to the drive-through window at the TD Bank on Middlesex Avenue around 3 p.m. that day, police officer David Liantonio said. She then allegedly handed the teller about $3,000 in twenty- and ten-dollar bills and asked to get hundred-dollar bills in return.

But the teller called police after becoming suspicious that a small portion of the bills were counterfeit, Liantonio said. Officers and detectives responded and detained Goddison, who consented to a search of her 2007 Land Rover Range Rover.

Inside the vehicle, police found a duffel bag that contained $72,680 in cash, which they determined was suspected drug proceeds, Liantonio said.

Only $70 of the cash turned out to be counterfeit, leading detectives to believe that Goddison was trying to launder money rather than swap out phony currency, he said.

“She has just happened to have a couple of bad ones in the batch,” Liantonio said.

Goddison was arrested and charged with third-degree money laundering, receiving stolen property and forgery, police said. She was taken to Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in lieu of $250,000 bail.