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Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Daquan Jones, 28, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, charged in by Indictment which was unsealed today with conspiracy to pass more than $75,000 in counterfeit $100 bills to numerous retail stores across Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
The Indictment alleges that Jones manufactured the counterfeit $100 bills at his home in Wilkes-Barre, and then employed numerous co-conspirators to pass the counterfeit notes to retail stores across the Commonwealth, including in Berks County, Delaware County, Centre County and Blair County. These co-conspirators, charged elsewhere, are alleged to have used the counterfeit $100 bills to purchase retail items in order to receive legitimate U.S. currency as change, which the co-conspirators would return to Jones along with the purchased items. The indictment alleges the conspiracy spanned from June of 2018 until June of 2019.
“Criminal counterfeiting of U.S. currency is a serious crime,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “Indeed, it is a slap in the face to everyone who puts in an honest day’s work to earn their money. This indictment sends a clear message that we take this type of fraud very seriously and we will pursue it to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The U.S. Secret Service was originally founded to combat counterfeit currency and remains one of our core missions today. The results of this investigation should serve as a reminder that the Secret Service will aggressively investigate and seek prosecution of those considering manufacturing counterfeit U.S. currency to defraud the citizens and businesses of Pennsylvania.”
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of twenty years’ imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew T. Newcomer.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
JENNIFER CRANDALL
Media Contact
215-861-8300
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