Tobyhanna Man Pleads Guilty To Passing $8,500 In Counterfeit Currency In Area Casinos

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Jason Mitchell, age 30, Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in dealing in counterfeit United States Federal Reserve Notes.  The guilty plea was entered before U.S. District Judge James M. Munley in Scranton.

According to U.S. Attorney Peter Smith, Mitchell was charged in an indictment by a grand jury in November 2014.  Mitchell and others conspired to receive, exchange, transfer, and pass approximately $8,500 in counterfeit $100 Federal Reserve Notes at the Mount Airy Casino in Mount Pocono and the Mohegan Sun Casino in Plains during June 2014.

The plea is subject to the approval of the court.  Judge Munley scheduled sentencing for December 18, 2015.

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 guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law is 5 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine. 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.

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