MADISON, WI – Another cog in a brazen counterfeit operation targeting southern Wisconsin merchants has been sentenced. Parish Barbary-Wheatherby, 21, of Madison, Wisconsin, received three years of probation today after pleading guilty to his role in passing fake $100 bills. U.S. District Judge William Conley also ordered Barbary-Wheatherby to cough up $4,600 in restitution to the businesses they swindled.
The scheme, which unfolded throughout January 2016, saw Barbary-Wheatherby and four accomplices hitting cities from Baraboo to Janesville. They operated with cold efficiency, making small purchases with the counterfeit hundreds to pocket a hefty return in legitimate cash. Barbary-Wheatherby bailed on the crew in late January, but the remaining four weren’t so lucky. They were nabbed by Janesville police on February 23, 2016, during a routine shopping spree gone wrong, after merchants flagged the suspicious bills.
Barbary-Wheatherby’s crew faced stiffer penalties. Dominique Gaunichaux, 19, caught eight months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and a $7,500 restitution order shared with the other defendants. Cornelius Stewart, 22, received a 24-month federal prison sentence, three years of supervised release, and the same $7,500 restitution demand. Danesha Phillips, 23, received 42 days in prison (credited for time served), plus two years of supervised release and the joint restitution. Her brother, Marlo Phillips, 19, also of Madison, received a year of time served and two years of supervised release, alongside the $7,500 restitution.
This wasn’t a solo operation. Law enforcement across multiple jurisdictions collaborated to bring down the ring. The investigation involved the coordinated efforts of the Madison, Baraboo, Stoughton, Verona, Oregon, Fitchburg, Lake Delton, and Janesville Police Departments, alongside the Sauk County and Rock County Sheriffs’ Offices, all working in tandem with the U.S. Secret Service. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin, spearheaded by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson, prosecuted the case.
While Barbary-Wheatherby received a lighter sentence, the case serves as a stark reminder that counterfeiting isn’t a victimless crime. The merchants targeted by this group suffered real financial losses, and the Secret Service isn’t playing around when it comes to protecting the integrity of U.S. currency. The investigation demonstrates a robust, multi-agency response to financial fraud in the region.
The coordinated takedown sends a message: even a brief involvement in a counterfeit scheme carries consequences. With five individuals now facing penalties, the U.S. Attorney’s Office hopes to deter others from attempting similar scams in southern Wisconsin. The full restitution order of $7,500 remains outstanding for several defendants, a financial burden they’ll carry long after their sentences are complete.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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