Hammond Couple Sentenced for Conspiracy to Make, Possess and Pass Counterfeit U.S. Currency

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that JOSHUA ORSO, age 27, and BRITTANY WATTIGNEY, age 25, both of Hammond, were sentenced today for conspiracy to make, possess, and pass counterfeit U.S. currency.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers, utilizing a cooperating individual, conducted an undercover controlled purchase of $2,000 worth of counterfeit U.S. currency in exchange for $350 of genuine U.S. currency from ORSO and WATTIGNEY at their residence. A search warrant executed at their residence resulted in the seizure of evidence that was used to manufacture the counterfeit currency. ORSO and WATTIGNEY were arrested by law enforcement officers, who seized additional counterfeit U.S. currency.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the U.S. Secret Service, New Orleans Field Office, the Louisiana State Police, and the Hammond Police Department for investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Loan "Mimi" Nguyen was in charge of the prosecution.