FIVE INDIVIDUALS INDICTED FOR INVOLVEMENT IN LARGE-SCALE COUNTERFEIT CURRENCY OPERATION

United States Attorney Dennis C. Pfannenschmidt announced today the indictment of five individuals in a large-scale counterfeit currency operation. Edmond Petitto, 40, of Hummelstown, Cory Stuckey, 32, of Duncannon, Fallon Flanagan, 22, of Duncannon, Cyrus Sanders, 42, of Harrisburg, and William Winemiller, 21, currently of York, were charged in a thirteen-count Indictment handed up by a grand jury sitting in Harrisburg.

Pfannenschmidt said all five defendants were charged together with conspiracy to manufacture and pass counterfeit United States currency. Each of the defendants also were charged separately with either manufacturing counterfeit currency or passing counterfeit currency, or both. In addition, Petitto and Stuckey also were charged with delivering counterfeit currency. The Indictment also seeks forfeiture of three Hewlett-Packard printers and a vehicle used in the counterfeiting operation, Pfannenschmidt said.

Pfannenschmidt said the charges stemmed from an investigation conducted by the Harrisburg Office of the United States Secret Service which began with information from a cooperating source who was approached by Petitto about making counterfeit currency. The source reported that Petitto and the other defendants made large quantities of counterfeit currency – usually $100 bills in amounts in excess of $10,000 – in order to spend the counterfeit at retail establishments and obtain genuine currency in exchange. The Indictment alleges that the group usually purchased items for less than $25 with counterfeit $100 bills in order to get the change in genuine currency. The Indictment also alleges that the counterfeit manufactured by Petitto and the other defendants was produced in a way to defeat counterfeit-detection devices currently used by retail establishments. The Indictment makes reference to at least three separate occasions during which various members of the group traveled to cities as far away as Seattle, Washington, to make purchases with counterfeit currency manufactured in Dauphin County. The additional delivery charge against Petitto and Stuckey stems from their delivery of $100,000 in counterfeit $100 bills in an undercover operation on October 2, 2009 in Swatara Township. After that delivery, Petitto, Stuckey and Fallon were arrested by Secret Service agents based on a Criminal Complaint and arrest warrants, Pfannenschmidt said. After appearing in front of a U.S. Magistrate Judge, Fallon and Stuckey were released on conditions and Petitto was detained, Pfannenschmidt said.

United States Attorney Pfannenschmidt said, “Counterfeiting of United States currency is a most serious offense and will not be tolerated at any time. Those who commit offenses of this nature and victimize legitimate businesses will be dealt with swiftly and severely.”

If convicted, Petitto and Stuckey face maximum jail sentences of 65 years and fines up to $1 million. Fallon and Winemiller face maximum jail terms of 45 years and fines up to $750,000. Sanders faces a maximum jail term of 25 years and fines up to $500,000. United States Attorney Pfannenschmidt praised the investigators and prosecutors for the excellent, efficient use of investigative resources to aggressively pursue and dismantle this significant counterfeiting ring.

The conspiracy count carries a maximum penalty of up to 5 years in jail and fines up to $250,000. Manufacturing counterfeit currency carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in jail and fines up to $250,000. Passing counterfeit currency carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in jail and fines up to $250,000. Delivering counterfeited currency carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in jail and fines up to $250,000.

The United States Secret Service was assisted by the Swatara Township Police Department in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James T. Clancy.

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An Indictment or Information is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the Grand Jury and/or United States Attorney against a defendant. A charged Defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the United States has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant has pled guilty to the charges.