Two Plead Guilty In Counterfeit Currency Scheme
PITTSBURGH, Pa. ‑ Two Western Pennsylvania residents have pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
On March 15, 2011, Tessa R. Hartless, 35, of Punxsutawney, Pa., and Tiphany D. Ohler, 25, of Ford City, Pa., each pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Maurice B. Cohill.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Hartless and Ohler conspired to, and did, manufacture and pass thousands of dollars of counterfeit currency at various stores throughout the Western Pennsylvania from March 2009 through May 2009.
Judge Cohill scheduled sentencing for Hartless on June 15, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. and the sentencing for Ohler on July14, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Pending sentencing, the court continued Hartless and Ohler on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney James T. Kitchen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Secret Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Hartless and Ohler.
