The United States Attorney's Office

PRINTER IN LARGE-SCALE COUNTERFEIT CURRENCY RING ADMITS PRODUCING OVER $2.5 MILLION IN FAKE $100s AND $20s

A Lawndale man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges, admitting that he that used inkjet and laser printers to produce at least $2.5 million worth of counterfeit $100 and $20 federal reserve notes, some of which had been circulated across the United States.

Albert Edward Talton, 45, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy and manufacturing counterfeit notes, two counts that carry a maximum statutory penalty of 25 years in federal prison.

Talton is among five defendants who were arrested in May following a four-month Secret Service investigation.

Troy Rustill Stroud, 41, of Playa Vista, an alleged broker of the counterfeit money, pleaded guilty last month to conspiracy and distributing counterfeit notes.

The other defendants, who are currently scheduled to go to trial on September 9, are:

David Goldberg, 35, of Sherman Oaks, who allegedly cut the counterfeit bills and glued them together;

Paul Tracy McCorry, 45, of West Covina, who allegedly acted as a broker of the money and assisted in printing the money, and;

Corey Nero, 38, of Hawthorne, another alleged broker of counterfeit notes.

The counterfeit notes manufactured by Talton had a remarkable range of distribution. Talton made the notes using inkjet technology and computers, and the Secret Services believes they represent one of the most successfully passed bogus notes made with inkjet technology. According to court documents, these notes have been passed successfully throughout the United States, and approximately $6.8 million of these counterfeit notes have been passed or seized to date.

When Talton was arrested, authorities discovered a counterfeit currency manufacturing plant, as well as nearly a quarter million dollars in completed counterfeit currency and nearly $825,000 in partially completed counterfeit currency.

A sixth man charged in the case, Earnest J. Alexander, 40, of Hawthorne, is being sought by authorities.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Talton is scheduled to be sentenced on October 27 by United States District Judge Percy Anderson. Stroud, who also faces up to 25 years in prison, is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Anderson on October 27.

The investigation into the counterfeit currency ring was conducted by the United States Secret Service, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigations and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
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