AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885

January 19, 2007

PARKVILLE LIQUOR STORE MANAGER PLEADS GUILTY TO COUNTERFEITING CONSPIRACY

Obtained over $120,000 of Counterfeit Currency Smuggled into Maryland from Israel

Baltimore, Maryland - Mordechai Mizrahi, age 57, of Reisterstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to sell counterfeit U.S. currency, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein

According to the plea agreement presented to the court, beginning in January 2003, Mizrahi imported $120,000 in $100 counterfeit bills from co-conspirators in Israel, which were smuggled into Maryland and tendered in the Baltimore metropolitan area. Mizrahi typically paid about $32,500 in legitimate U.S. currency for every $100,000 of counterfeit currency. He transferred the counterfeit money personally or through another conspirator. For example, in April of 2003 U.S. Secret Service agents obtained 11 counterfeit $100 bills tendered during a cash transaction at a grocery store in Reisterstown, Maryland, 10 of which had been used to purchase money orders that were deposited into a bank account held by a business managed by Mizrahi - Joppa Liquors of Parkville, Maryland. Mizrahi tendered about $8,000 in counterfeit currency to cashiers at different casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey in exchange for legitimate currency. He also tendered counterfeit currency at various department stores by purchasing merchandise he later returned for a cash refund. On October 31, 2003, Mizrahi was arrested by Howard County Police for passing several $100 bills at a golf course in Marriottsville, Maryland.

Mizrahi faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison followed by two years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Andre M. Davis scheduled sentencing for April 27, 2007 at 9:30 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the U.S. Secret Service, Baltimore field office and the Howard County Police Department. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Leonovicz, who is prosecuting the case.