Five men charged in counterfeit currency scheme
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
February 15, 2011 |
NEWARK, N.J. – Four men were arrested yesterday and today, charged along with a fifth man for allegedly participating in a conspiracy to pass counterfeit U.S. currency at New Jersey retail establishments including Target, Pathmark and A&P, United States Attorney Paul J.
Fishman announced.
Vanrie Carrier, 40, of Newark; James King, 48, of Irvington, N.J.; Kindrick White, 38, of Irvington, N.J.; Charles Simmons, 58, of Newark; and Robert Faison, 42, of Newark, were each charged by Complaint with a count each of conspiracy to pass counterfeit U.S. currency. In addition to the conspiracy charge, Carrier is charged with one count of falsely making and one count of selling counterfeit U.S. currency. White and Faison were arrested yesterday morning in Irvington and Newark, respectively. Simmons was arrested this morning in Irvington. King
remains at large.
White and Faison appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson in Newark federal court. White was released on a $100,000 bond; Faison was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for February 16, 2011. Simmons and Carrier, who is currently in state custody on an unrelated charge, are expected to appear before Judge Dickson this afternoon. According to the Complaint unsealed yesterday:
Beginning in December 2009, law enforcement began investigating a group of individuals who were spending counterfeit bills at New Jersey retail stores. The conspirators entered retail establishments and made low-dollar value purchases, often with the use of counterfeit $50 bills, receiving genuine currency as change. On several occasions, two or three of the defendants entered the same store and made purchases with bills bearing the same serial number. On one day, King and White traveled to three different Target stores – which were under video surveillance – in order to make the fraudulent transactions. In all, the defendants spent approximately $4,020 in counterfeit currency at retail stores from December 2009 through October 2010.
A confidential informant (“CI”) provided the United States Secret Service with information regarding Carrier’s production and sale of counterfeit currency. In February 2010, the CI completed two controlled purchases of $1,000 in fake bills from Carrier, both times in exchange for $325 in genuine U.S. currency.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jacob Christine, with the nvestigation leading to the charges and arrests. He also thanked the New Jersey State Police, as well as the Essex County Sheriff’s Department; the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office; the Flemington Borough, Raritan Township and Aberdeen Police Departments; and the New Jersey Department of Corrections for their roles in the arrests.
The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Fabiana Pierre-Louis of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Fishman announced.
Vanrie Carrier, 40, of Newark; James King, 48, of Irvington, N.J.; Kindrick White, 38, of Irvington, N.J.; Charles Simmons, 58, of Newark; and Robert Faison, 42, of Newark, were each charged by Complaint with a count each of conspiracy to pass counterfeit U.S. currency. In addition to the conspiracy charge, Carrier is charged with one count of falsely making and one count of selling counterfeit U.S. currency. White and Faison were arrested yesterday morning in Irvington and Newark, respectively. Simmons was arrested this morning in Irvington. King
remains at large.
White and Faison appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson in Newark federal court. White was released on a $100,000 bond; Faison was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for February 16, 2011. Simmons and Carrier, who is currently in state custody on an unrelated charge, are expected to appear before Judge Dickson this afternoon. According to the Complaint unsealed yesterday:
Beginning in December 2009, law enforcement began investigating a group of individuals who were spending counterfeit bills at New Jersey retail stores. The conspirators entered retail establishments and made low-dollar value purchases, often with the use of counterfeit $50 bills, receiving genuine currency as change. On several occasions, two or three of the defendants entered the same store and made purchases with bills bearing the same serial number. On one day, King and White traveled to three different Target stores – which were under video surveillance – in order to make the fraudulent transactions. In all, the defendants spent approximately $4,020 in counterfeit currency at retail stores from December 2009 through October 2010.
A confidential informant (“CI”) provided the United States Secret Service with information regarding Carrier’s production and sale of counterfeit currency. In February 2010, the CI completed two controlled purchases of $1,000 in fake bills from Carrier, both times in exchange for $325 in genuine U.S. currency.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jacob Christine, with the nvestigation leading to the charges and arrests. He also thanked the New Jersey State Police, as well as the Essex County Sheriff’s Department; the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office; the Flemington Borough, Raritan Township and Aberdeen Police Departments; and the New Jersey Department of Corrections for their roles in the arrests.
The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Fabiana Pierre-Louis of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
