Dennis Michael Aigotti, Counterfeit Currency, Florida 2021

BOCA GRANDE, FL – A repeat offender is headed back to federal prison after a botched attempt to pass a fake ten-dollar bill at a local grocery store. Dennis Michael Aigotti, 54, of Bradenton, Florida, was sentenced to 36 months behind bars by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber, following a guilty plea entered October 13, 2021.

The scheme unraveled on May 18, 2021, when Aigotti tried to use the counterfeit bill at Hudson’s Grocery Store in Boca Grande. A vigilant cashier spotted the fake, and Aigotti fled in his vehicle. Local law enforcement quickly caught up to him, and a search of the car revealed a counterfeiting operation on wheels: multiple fake bills, a color printer, a laptop, resume paper, and scissors – the tools of a low-budget con man.

The U.S. Secret Service investigation, working alongside the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, uncovered a total of $410 in counterfeit Federal Reserve notes linked to Aigotti. The feds seized the laptop and printer as assets derived from the illegal activity, ensuring Aigotti won’t be continuing his fraudulent work anytime soon.

What makes this case particularly damning is Aigotti’s prior record. He was already on federal supervised release for…passing and counterfeiting Federal Reserve notes. This wasn’t his first rodeo, and Judge Barber clearly took that into account when handing down the 36-month sentence, also crediting Aigotti for time served related to the violation of his previous supervised release.

Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Laurie prosecuted the case, building a solid case based on the evidence collected by the Secret Service and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. While the amount of counterfeit currency may seem relatively small, the Secret Service doesn’t take these cases lightly. Every fake bill chipped away at the integrity of the nation’s currency.

Aigotti’s operation was clearly amateur hour, but it demonstrates a willingness to repeatedly break the law and exploit the financial system. The 36-month sentence sends a clear message: counterfeiting is a serious federal crime, and repeat offenders will face significant consequences. The investigation highlights the ongoing collaboration between local and federal law enforcement to combat financial crimes and protect the nation’s economic stability.

Related Federal Cases