Dale Richard Estep II, Counterfeit Currency, Pennsylvania 2021

A brazen counterfeit currency scheme rocked the central Pennsylvania region, with one man passing phony bills across multiple counties between May 12, 2019 and May 14, 2019.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Dale Richard Estep II, age 34, of Woodbridge, Virginia, was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 24, 2021 for passing counterfeit United States currency.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment charges Estep with eleven counts of passing counterfeit United States currency in businesses in Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, and York Counties.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby is prosecuting the case.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law on each count of passing counterfeit currency is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs.

For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa/pr/virginia-man-charged-passing-counterfeit-currency