New York Man Sentenced To 15 Months Imprisonment For Purchasing Atv In Enosburg With Counterfeit Money

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont that Judge William K. Sessions III, in Burlington, Vermont, today sentenced Francis Hamblin, 31, of, Fort Ann, New York to fifteen months in prison and two years of supervised release. Hamblin previously plead guilty to possessing counterfeit currency. 

According to court records, on October 19, 2013, Hamblin, in response to an advertisement on Craig’s List, purchased a Yamaha ATV vehicle from a man in Enosburg with $3,500 in counterfeit U.S. currency. The seller of the ATV later became suspicious of the currency and contacted the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office who confirmed the currency was counterfeit. Investigation by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office led to Hamblin’s arrest. Hamblin also purchased two other ATVs with counterfeit currency, one in Albany, Vermont and the other in Plattsburgh, New York. Two of the three ATVs were recovered and returned to the original owners. The third was not and Hamblin was ordered to pay $2,080 to the seller in Plattsburgh, New York. Court records show that Hamblin also passed a $20 counterfeit bill at Burger King in South Burlington, Vermont.

This case was investigated jointly by the United States Secret Service and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. The United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella.  The defendant is represented by David McColgin, Esq. of the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Burlington.