Chris Tucker Bertany, Counterfeiting, Florida 2019

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL – A trio of suspects are facing serious charges after a sophisticated counterfeiting operation was uncovered at a Hilton Garden Inn in St. Lucie West last week. The Secret Service, working alongside the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Chris Tucker Bertany, 30, Jesse David Delay, 40, and Sierra Jackson, 20, after a housekeeping staff member discovered suspicious items in their hotel room on July 23rd.

Sheriff Ken Mascara revealed that a search warrant yielded more than just fake bills. Authorities recovered computer and printing equipment, counterfeit currency paper, and even a printer used to manufacture fraudulent driver’s licenses from across the United States. Bertany, the apparent ringleader, confessed to printing between $3,000 and $4,000 in counterfeit currency, and admitted to passing over $1,000 in St. Lucie County alone using the fake cash to buy goods and then return them for legitimate money.

The counterfeit bills, in denominations of $100, $50, and $20, were remarkably well-made, even fooling standard counterfeit detection pens used by many retailers. “These counterfeits were very sophisticated,” Mascara stated. A search of Bertany’s vehicle turned up additional counterfeit and real currency, along with receipts corroborating purchases made with the fake bills and items yet to be returned for genuine cash. The investigation has already linked the group to other counterfeiting cases across Florida, including a $10,000 bust in the Jacksonville area and further incidents in Orlando.

Chris Bertany is facing a slew of charges: possession of tools and paper for forgery or counterfeiting, possession of 10 or more counterfeit bills, and fraud. He is also charged with driving with a suspended license. Bertany is currently held at the St. Lucie County Jail on an $8,650 bond. Investigators believe he was the primary operator of the counterfeiting scheme.

While Bertany took the lead on the fake money, Jesse David Delay and Sierra Jackson were charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. They admitted to renting the hotel room next to Bertany under a false name, but claim to have had no knowledge of the counterfeiting operation. Both Delay and Jackson are being held at the St. Lucie County Jail on a $15,750 bond. Authorities are still investigating the full extent of their involvement.

The Secret Service is continuing to investigate connections to other potential counterfeit operations and fraudulent ID schemes across the country. This bust serves as a reminder that even seemingly sophisticated counterfeit operations can be brought down with diligent police work and interagency cooperation. The investigation is ongoing, and further charges are possible as the scope of the operation is fully revealed.

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