Two people charged with crimes related to counterfeitting
Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Brian J. Sarich, age 23, of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, with one count of manufacturing counterfeit currency and with two counts of selling counterfeit currency.
The indictment also charges Renee Liuzzo, age 21, of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, as an aider and abetter of Brian J. Sarich in the two counts of selling counterfeit currency.
The indictment charges that from December 27, 2011 until January 19, 2012, Sarich manufactured counterfeit currency. The indictment also charges that on December 27, 2011, and January 19, 2012, Sarich aided and abetted by Liuzzo sold counterfeit currency.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentences will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The case is being presented by Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Sassé after an investigation by the United States Secret Service.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
