Three Tobyhanna Men Charged With Counterfeiting Scheme

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that an Indictment was returned on November 25 by a grand jury in Scranton charging Michael Turner, age 21, Andrew Turner, age 27, and Jason Mitchell, age 29, all of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, with conspiracy and dealing in counterfeit United States Federal Reserve Notes.

United States Attorney Peter Smith stated that the three-count Indictment charges that beginning in or about June 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014, the defendants conspired and aided abetted each other in a scheme to receive, exchange, transfer, and pass approximately $8700 in counterfeit $100 Federal Reserve Notes at the Mount Airy Casino in Mount Pocono and the Mohegan Sun Casino in Plains.

The defendants face a total statutory maximum term of 45 years and fines in the amount of $750,000.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Gaming Enforcement.

Prosecution is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.