TAMPA, FL – Simon Keith Angaran, 50, of Tampa, is headed to federal prison for more than five years after being sentenced for orchestrating a widespread counterfeit currency operation across the Tampa Bay area. U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday handed down the five-year and four-month sentence today, bringing an end to a case that exposed a brazen attempt to flood the local economy with fake cash.
Angaran pleaded guilty on January 28, 2021, admitting to conspiracy to make and pass counterfeit Federal Reserve notes, as well as the actual creation of the bogus bills. Court documents reveal the scheme operated from at least December 2016 through February 2020, with Angaran at the helm. The operation wasn’t some small-time hustle; investigators tracked over 1,000 instances of the counterfeit currency being passed, resulting in a total loss of $135,010.
The bust originated in June 2019, when a co-conspirator attempted to use a counterfeit bill at a Tampa thrift store, raising the initial red flag. This led law enforcement to unravel a complex network, ultimately leading them to Angaran. A February 2020 raid on Angaran’s residence uncovered the counterfeiting operation in full swing – the bills were being printed and manufactured directly from his home.
But Angaran wasn’t working alone. He wasn’t just printing the money, he was *teaching* others to do the same. He admitted to instructing his co-conspirators on how to manufacture and distribute the fake currency, effectively building a team dedicated to defrauding local businesses and individuals. This isn’t just about money; it’s about undermining the integrity of the financial system.
This isn’t the only conviction stemming from this operation. Christina Shante Perez, one of Angaran’s accomplices, was previously sentenced on February 18, 2021, to three years’ imprisonment for her role in making and passing the counterfeit bills. The U.S. Secret Service, alongside the Tampa Police Department and the Seminole Police Department, spearheaded the investigation, highlighting the importance of interagency cooperation in tackling these types of federal crimes.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer L. Peresie and Tiffany E. Fields are prosecuting the case. While Angaran’s sentence brings a measure of justice, the case serves as a stark reminder that counterfeiting, even on a seemingly localized scale, is a serious federal offense with significant consequences. The Secret Service continues to aggressively pursue those who attempt to undermine the nation’s financial infrastructure.
Related Federal Cases
- Keith Raniere, Organized Crime Ring Leader, Albany NY, 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Antonio Hernandez-Vilar, Card Fraud Ring Leadership, Tampa FL, 2015 · Georgia
- Matthew William McLean, Transporting Minor for Sex, Tampa FL, 2023 · Texas
- Bradford L. Huebner, Conspiracy to Commit Currency Fraud, Toledo OH · Ohio
- Frank Fiore, Counterfeit Xanax and Steroid Trafficking, Parkland FL… · Georgia
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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