Pataskala Man Pleads Guilty To Counterfeiting

COLUMBUS, OHIO  –  Joshua M. Guyselman, 29, of Pataskala, Ohio pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of manufacturing counterfeit U.S. $100 bills.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Mark Porter, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Paul Pride, Reynoldsburg Police Chief Jim O’Neill and Pataskala Police Chief Bruce Brooks announced the plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael Watson.

According to testimony by a Secret Service agent during the plea hearing, Reynoldsburg Police officers detained Guyselman in February 2013 after he went to a local business and attempted to pass a counterfeit $100 bill he made. Further investigation revealed that Guyselman used a process known as “bleaching” to produce counterfeit bills on genuine paper used for U.S. currency that he then passed at area businesses in Licking County. 

“Bleaching” is a process in which chemicals are used to remove the ink from small denomination Federal Reserve notes. A counterfeiter will print the markings of a higher denomination note on the “bleached” note, often using a home computer and printer.

Counterfeiting of U.S. currency is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Judge Watson will schedule a date for sentencing after the court completes a pre-sentence investigation. Guyselman will remain free on bond until sentencing.

U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by the Secret Service, the Highway Patrol, and the police departments in Pataskala and Pickerington, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Dale E. Williams Jr., who is prosecuting the case.