UNITED STATES ATTORNEY ALICE H. MARTIN NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE			CONTACT: KAREN NARAMORE
	MAY 1, 2009			PHONE: (205) 244-2001
	www.usdoj.gov/usao/aln			FAX: (205) 244-2171

MARSHALL COUNTY COUPLE INDICTED FOR POSSESSING COUNTERFEIT U.S. CURRENCY

            BIRMINGHAM, AL - STEPHEN MARK EWING, 38, and AMANDA SUSAN GRAVES, 40, both of Albertville, Alabama,  have been indicted by a federal grand jury today in U.S. District Court in Birmingham.  United States Attorney Alice H. Martin of the Northern District of Alabama and Roy Sexton, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service, announce the 16-count indictment today of EWING and GRAVES for falsely making U.S. Federal Reserve Notes and possessing counterfeit U.S. Federal Reserve Notes.

             The indictment charges that EWING and GRAVES used eight different bills, ranging from $20 to $50, to make false U.S. Federal Reserve Notes, which were in their possession.  

            The maximum sentence for each count is up to $250,000 fine and imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both.

            “People that make counterfeit money add additional strain to the tenuous nature of our banking system,” stated U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin.  “Our office will prosecute to ensure that the U.S. banking system is not compromised.”

            U.S. Secret Service and Boaz Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Angela Redmond Debro is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.

            Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
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