GREAT FALLS, MT – Bobby Lamere, 42, of Great Falls, Montana, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 18 months behind bars for flooding the city with counterfeit U.S. currency. U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris handed down the sentence, also including three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. Lamere was further ordered to pay $4,335.00 in restitution to those impacted by his scheme.
The scheme began to unravel in March of 2017 when local businesses in Great Falls started reporting a surge in counterfeit bills. The Great Falls Police Department responded, collecting the fake cash and launching an investigation to identify the source. The trail led directly to Lamere, who was found asleep in the backseat of a car in a business parking lot on May 15, 2017.
The driver of the vehicle willingly informed officers they’d find narcotics, counterfeit money, and a handgun inside. They weren’t wrong. A search uncovered numerous fake $20, $10, and $5 bills, along with two laptops, printing supplies, and four sheets of counterfeit $20 and $100 Federal Reserve Notes. A firearm was also recovered. The driver also implicated Lamere directly in the creation of the fake currency.
The Secret Service quickly took the lead, analyzing the recovered bills. Their investigation revealed a widespread distribution of counterfeit currency originating from Great Falls. Serial number analysis confirmed the bills found in Lamere’s car were the same ones circulating throughout the city. During an interview, Lamere confessed to manufacturing the bills in $20, $50, and $100 denominations, admitting he traded them exclusively for narcotics.
Lamere detailed his crude counterfeiting process: “washing” bills, flattening them, and creating templates on a printer. He’d cut the sheets and then use gel pens to attempt to refine the appearance of the fakes. He admitted to starting the operation in December 2016, initially believing he’d created around $6,000-$7,000 in counterfeit currency. The Secret Service, however, found evidence linking the paper, ink, and penmanship to Lamere’s operation, solidifying their case. A subsequent search on September 8, 2017, yielded another 16 counterfeit bills in Lamere’s possession.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Betley, with critical investigative work provided by the United States Secret Service and the Great Falls Police Department. This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative focused on reducing violent crime and improving community safety, recently reinvigorated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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