New York Man Charged With Passing Counterfeit $100 Bills
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Brooklyn, NY, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of possessing and passing counterfeit money, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The six-count indictment named Kerven Benoit, 26, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, Benoit passed two $100 counterfeit federal reserve notes at retail stores near McMurray, Pa., on March 9, 2012, and passed three $100 counterfeit federal reserve notes at retail stores in Robinson Township, Pa., on May 23, 2012. He also is charged with possessing four $100 counterfeit federal reserve notes with the intent to defraud.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 120 years in prison, a fine of $1,500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Secret Service and the Robinson Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
