Former Johnston County Teacher Arrested for Making Fake Money

Marcia Grimsley was a Johnston County elementary school teacher and is the widow of a powerful man in state politics. Her late husband, Joe, was an advisor to former Gov. Jim Hunt. Joe Grimsley died in 2001.

In 2004, she was charged in a murder-for-hire plot.

Recently, Clayton police stopped her car after getting a tip from an informant. In its trunk, officers said, they found large sums of counterfeit currency.

“Ms. Grimsley had tried to obtain someone's services, had actually retained their services, and tried to make payment using counterfeit money,” said detective Nancy Harvey with the Clayton Police Department.

Police believe Grimsley was printing the counterfeit money by herself. They seized a computer, printer and fiber printing paper from her house.

“In a way, I'm quite surprised because this is supposed to be a pretty good neighborhood,” neighbor Bob Capps said.

“Some of it could have been perceived as actual money, but the further you delved into the money, you could tell it was genuinely counterfeit,” Harvey said.

Virginia authorities accused Grimsley of trying to help her son, David, hire a hit man to kill his wife in 2004. He is serving a life sentence for that crime.

Authorities later agreed to drop all charges against her because she had severe health problems. They also issued a protective order to keep her away from her daughter-in-law and grandchildren.

In 2005, Grimsley told WRAL she and her son were innocent.

“I believe my son will be exonerated. I know I'm going to be,” Grimsley said.

Grimsley is out of jail on bond on the latest charge.

Police are working with the U.S. Secret Service because of the large sum of fake currency.