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Counterfeit Queen Pleads Guilty
ROCHESTER, N.Y.–In a shocking turn of events, 31-year-old Michele Sergeant of Queens, New York, pleaded guilty to possession of counterfeit bank notes before U.S. District Court Judge Frank P. Geraci.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, according to authorities.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring, who is handling the case, revealed that on September 22, 2013, New York State Troopers stopped Sergeant’s vehicle on Interstate 390 in the town of Wayland in Steuben County. The car was traveling at 102 mph in a 65 mph zone.
During a search, troopers found marijuana in the car and Sergeant and her co-defendant were arrested. Following their arrest, troopers located $8,700 in $100 bank notes inside the car along with a financial ledger book. Inside the ledger were columns which showed dollar amounts and abbreviations for retail locations.
Secret Service Agents determined that the 87 $100 bills recovered were actually sophisticated counterfeit bills, complete with water marks, color shifting ink, and embedded security strips. They further determined that the ledger notations were references to Home Depot, Lowes, Target, and Wal-Mart stores.
As part of the investigation, Secret Service Agents reviewed store surveillance video from the dates and times of the transactions listed in the ledger. The defendant, and a co-defendant, were identified on video surveillance from several area stores passing counterfeit $100 bank notes. Subsequent investigation determined that Sergeant had passed an additional $14,100 in counterfeit $100 bank notes within the Western District of New York.
At the time the defendant passed the counterfeit bills here, she was on release for similar conduct in the State of Massachusetts. The total loss due to Sergeant’s actions was $65,300.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 15, 2014 at 3:30 p.m. before Judge Geraci.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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