Kern County Man Pleads Guilty To Counterfeiting U.S. Currency

FRESNO, Calif. — Alfonso Castellon, 41, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to counterfeiting U.S. currency and possessing images for counterfeiting purposes, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to court documents, from January 2011 to March 2014, Castellon, with intent to defraud, counterfeited Federal Reserve Notes in $100 and other denominations. In March 2014, a search of his residence revealed sample images of $100 bills and computer equipment, printers, and ink associated with counterfeiting, along with a flash drive containing images of $100 bills. Castellon estimated he produced approximately 20 counterfeit $100 bills per week, or approximately $100,000 per year.

This case is the product of an investigation by the United States Secret Service, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michael G. Tierney is prosecuting the case.

Castellon is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii on January 12, 2015. Castellon faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.