ATLANTA - A man who manufactured over $1.2 million in counterfeit $100 bills that were passed in at least ten different states was sentenced late today by United States District Judge Amy Totenberg to serve over five years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.  Vincent Gerome Rome, Jr., 26, of Atlanta, was convicted of these charges on November 21, 2011, upon his plea of guilty.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “In the world of crime, thievery has many faces, all of which meet the same end when they collide with the justice system.  This defendant stole from others when he made over a million dollars’ “worth” of counterfeit $100 bills by putting new faces on $5 bills.  His thievery by counterfeiting has ended with a very real prison sentence.”

“The investigation of counterfeit U. S. currency was the reason the United States Secret Service was created nearly 150 years ago.  Protecting the integrity of our financial infrastructure and the nation’s trust in our currency continues to be a priority for our agency.  This case demonstrates the negative impact of counterfeit currency to our local economy.  In conjunction with our local law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively pursue those who manufacture and pass counterfeit currency,” said Reginald G. Moore, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office.

Rome was sentenced to 5 years, 3 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,300.

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: Over an approximately two-year period, Rome created over $1.2 million in counterfeit $100 bills by removing the original image from genuine $5 bills notes using commercial cleaners and solvents, and printing a new image bearing a $100 denomination on the genuine currency paper.  Rome then sold the counterfeit currency to others in the Atlanta metropolitan area, who in turn passed the counterfeit currency in over ten states primarily in the southeastern United States.  During a search of Rome’s residence in August 2011, law enforcement recovered multiple bleaching trays, one of which contained $5 bills in the process of having the $5 images removed, multiple printers, dozens of bank wrappers used to wrap stacks of $5 bills, thousands in counterfeit $100 bills, and three firearms. 

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the United States Secret Service.

Assistant United States Attorney Nick Oldham prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney's Public Information Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.

 

 

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