Secret Service Investigation Leads To Conspiracy And Counterfeiting Charges
PITTSBURGH – Three Pittsburgh-area residents and a New York City man have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on conspiracy and counterfeiting charges, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The six-count indictment charges John Viloria, 25, of Bronx, New York; Barry Robert Youger, Jr., 36, of Belle Vernon, Pa.; Cheryl Leigh Johnson, 36, of Charleroi, Pa.; and Eric Seighman, 31, of Belle Vernon, Pa., with conspiring to possess and pass counterfeit currency in the denomination of $100 dollars.
According to the indictment, Viloria obtained thousands of dollars of counterfeit Federal Reserve notes in the denomination of $100 dollars and transported the counterfeit Federal Reserve notes into the Western District of Pennsylvania. The indictment also charges that on numerous occasions, Youger, Johnson and Seighman passed and attempted to pass counterfeit Federal Reserve notes at various retail store locations in the Western District of Pennsylvania and received legitimate currency as change.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence for Viloria of 45 years in prison, a fine of $750,000 or both. The law provides for a maximum total sentence for Youger, Johnson and Seighman of 25 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorney Mary McKeen Houghton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Secret Service conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.