Four Plead Guilty to Counterfeiting

US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that four individuals charged with making, passing, and dealing in counterfeit US currency have pled guilty in federal court. Jared Thompson, age 18, of Elk Point, South Dakota, was indicted for Making Counterfeit US Currency; Nicholas Dooyema, age 18, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was indicted for Dealing in Counterfeit US Currency and Passing Counterfeit US Currency; while Roy Lee Brown, age 23, and Robyn Adolph, age 27, both of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, were indicted for Passing Counterfeit US Currency. All four individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury on February 7, 2012. The maximum penalty upon conviction for each count is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and restitution to the victims.

The counterfeit scheme was discovered when one of the individuals passed counterfeit $50 bills at three video lottery casinos in Sioux Falls and attempted to pass one at a local fast-food restaurant. The investigation led to Jared Thompson as the source of the counterfeit money. The Sioux Falls Police Department and the United States Secret Service conducted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper.

Presentence investigations were ordered, and sentencing dates have been set. Nicholas Dooyema and Jared Thompson were released on bond pending sentencing; Robyn Adolph and Roy Brown were returned to state custody pending sentencing.