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Press Release

Members Of Counterfeit Currency Conspiracy Sentenced

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Sandra Nieves (41, Orlando) to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiring to pass and possess counterfeit currency.  Her co-conspirator, Eileen Santos (51, Orlando), was sentenced to seven months in federal prison for her role in this case.  Both women were found guilty by a federal jury on October 28, 2015.

According to evidence presented during trial and sentencing, between December 2011 and January 2012, Nieves, Santos, along with co-conspirators Jorge Ortiz-Pulgarin, Ramon Rodriguez, Carlos Fuentes, and others, traveled from central Florida up the east coast of the United States with approximately $40,000 in counterfeit currency.  The group stopped at more than 30 locations to make small purchases. They used counterfeit $100 bills and received genuine U.S. currency as change.  Additionally, Nieves made two trips to Colombia to obtain more than $100,000 in counterfeit currency to bring back into the United States.

Five others members of the conspiracy were previously federally charged, convicted, and sentenced for their roles in this case. Fabian Ortiz and Erik Rodriguez were each sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment; Jorge Ortiz-Pulgarin was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison; Ramon Rodriguez and Carlos Fuentes were sentenced to serve 7 and 6 month sentences, respectively.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Embry J. Kidd and Shawn P. Napier.

Updated January 22, 2016

Topic
Financial Fraud