08-12-04 -- Marmolejo, Miguel A. -- Sentencing -- News Release

Pleasantville Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Counterfeiting

CAMDEN - A Pleasantville man was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison today for manufacturing counterfeit $10 and $20 Federal Reserve Notes with a total face value of approximately $5,000, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler also ordered Miguel A. Marmolejo, 36, to serve three years of supervised release upon the completion of his prison sentence.

Marmolejo pleaded guilty to a one-count Information on May 6, 2004, which charged him with manufacturing counterfeit U.S. currency.

At his plea hearing, Marmolejo, who at the time was an Atlantic City Boardwalk rolling chair operator, admitted that in October 2003 he decided to manufacture counterfeit U.S. currency. He admitted to using a computer system, which included a scanner and printer, to make the counterfeit bills. Furthermore, Marmolejo admitted using a CD-ROM disk that he had purchased, which contained images of genuine Federal Reserve Notes and instructions for manufacturing counterfeit bills.

Marmolejo admitted that from October 2003 through December 2003 he used the computer system and software to manufacture counterfeit $10 and $20 Federal Reserve Notes with a face value of approximately $5,000.

On Feb. 10, 2004, Marmolejo was arrested and his residence was searched. Marmolejo admitted that when he was arrested, outside his residence, he was in possession of counterfeit bills with a face value of about $80. He also admitted to making the counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes which were found in his residence which had a face value of $3,420. Marmolejo also admitted that he passed some of the counterfeit money himself and sold some counterfeit bills to other people.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Under Sentencing Guidelines, defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all of that time, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard Wiener.

Christie credited Special Agents of the Atlantic City Resident Agency of the United States Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James Borasi, of the Philadelphia Field Office.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wiener of the U.S. Attorney's Criminal Division in Camden.

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Defense Attorney: Lisa Evans, Esq. AFPD