Final Two Defendants Plead Guilty in International Counterfeit Currency Ring

All 13 defendants have pleaded guilty in $86 million counterfeiting scheme

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Ofra Borohov, 45, and Boaz Borohov, 44, a married couple from Tel Aviv, Israel, pleaded guilty today to RICO conspiracy involving multiple acts of counterfeiting of U.S. currency and money structuring. 

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Joseph P. Clancy, Acting Director of the United States Secret Service, made the announcement after the pleas were accepted by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady. 

“This counterfeiting ring used sophisticated techniques to mimic the security and design features of U.S. currency and created over $86 million in counterfeit bills,” said U.S. Attorney Boente.  “I want to commend the Secret Service and its law enforcement partners for aggressively investigating this conspiracy and supporting the prosecution of these 13 defendants.”

“The conclusion of this case highlights the Secret Service’s investigative prowess and ability to detect one of the most prolific counterfeit notes in history,” said Secret Service Acting Director Clancy. “This investigation joins a long list of successful counterfeit suppressions over our 149 year history.  We will continue to work closely with our network of law enforcement partners to combat criminal enterprises and protect the Nation’s financial infrastructure.”  

According to court documents filed in this case, the Borohov’s participated in a criminal enterprise that engaged in multiple acts involving counterfeiting of U.S. currency and money structuring. Ofra and Boaz came to the United States from Israel in March 2014 to assist in the production and manufacture of counterfeit $100 notes at a warehouse in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, purchased by Itzhak Loz and Ronin Fakiro, two co-conspirators.  Over $2.56 million in counterfeit currency was manufactured at the warehouse where the Borohov’s were arrested on May 28, 2014, when the U.S. Secret Service executed a search warrant there.

All 13 defendants named in the original indictment have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.  The defendants are listed in the indictment in the following order:

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly R. Pedersen and Gordon D. Kromberg are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No.  1:14CR206.