FORT MYERS, FL – James Randall Lacy, 60, of Fort Myers, is trading sidewalks for steel bars after being sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison for peddling fake cash. U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell handed down the sentence today, following Lacy’s guilty plea on May 16, 2025.
The scheme wasn’t exactly Ocean’s Eleven. Court records show Lacy’s brazen attempt to pass counterfeit Federal Reserve notes unfolded across two counties in February and March of this year. On February 19th, he allegedly attempted to use a bogus $50 bill at a Sarasota County store. Thankfully, the store had surveillance, and Lacy was caught red-handed on camera.
But that didn’t stop him. Less than a month later, on March 14th, Lacy tried the same stunt at a Fort Myers supermarket, this time with a counterfeit $100 bill. Again, store cameras caught him in the act. Apparently, Lacy wasn’t too concerned about being identified. A pattern of behavior that ultimately led to his downfall.
The U.S. Secret Service, the agency tasked with protecting the nation’s currency (among other things), took the lead on the investigation. They received crucial backup from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Sarasota Police Department. It’s a rare win for local and federal law enforcement working together to tackle even low-level financial crimes.
Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava prosecuted the case, presenting the surveillance footage and other evidence that solidified the charges against Lacy. While the amounts involved weren’t astronomical, the courts take counterfeiting seriously – it undermines the integrity of the U.S. financial system.
Lacy’s sentence sends a clear message: trying to pass fake money isn’t worth the risk. He’ll have plenty of time to contemplate that in federal prison. Expect more investigations into counterfeit currency as the economic climate continues to pressure those on the margins.
RELATED: Sicko Lacy Gets 30 Years for Child Porn
RELATED: Sicko Lacy Gets 30 Years for Child Porn
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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