Judge sentences Great Falls man in counterfeiting scheme

GREAT FALLS—Great Falls resident Martin Phillip Rose, who was convicted in a counterfeiting scheme, was sentenced on Thursday to 14 months in prison and three years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.

U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided at the hearing.

Rose, 44, pleaded guilty in July to aiding and abetting counterfeiting obligations or securities of the United States.

The investigation began in 2017 when a significant amount of counterfeit money began circulating through out Great Falls. In July 2017, Rose passed a fake $50 bill at a local business and was arrested. Following Rose’s arrest, investigators continued receiving information that Rose was making counterfeit $50 bills by taking legitimate $10 bills, washing them with chemicals and re-printing them as $50 bills.

Rose acknowledged to investigators he had run short on money and started making counterfeit bills.

Investigators identified 51 victims of Rose’s counterfeit scheme.

In a sentencing memo, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Betley said Rose was sentenced in 2012 in federal court in Montana on a previous counterfeiting crime.

Betley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Great Falls Police Department.

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