Sonny Chao, Counterfeit Money Scheme, South Dakota 2025
Counterfeit Money Scheme Lands South Dakota Men in Federal Prison
Pierre, South Dakota - A brazen counterfeit money scheme has landed three South Dakota men in federal prison, with the mastermind behind the operation sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.
Sonny Chao, 36, of Oacoma, South Dakota, was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Chao was also ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution to the victims of this matter.
Chao used electronic images on his computer to create counterfeit $100.00 Federal Reserve Notes that were passed at various businesses throughout central South Dakota between November 28, 2023, and March 17, 2024. He would soak genuine $1.00 Federal Reserve Notes in a solution that removed the ink and print the image of a $100.00 Federal Reserve Note on the blank genuine paper.
Anthony Martinez, 24, of Chamberlain, South Dakota, was sentenced to one month in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Martinez pleaded guilty to two counts of Passing Counterfeit U.S. Currency on October 17, 2024.
Gino Martinez, 21, of Chamberlain, South Dakota, was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of Passing Counterfeit U.S. Currency on October 15, 2024. Chao and Anthony Martinez were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
The convictions stemmed from a federal grand jury indictment in June 2024. The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, South Dakota Highway Patrol, South Dakota Fusion Center, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Chamberlain Police Department, Lyman County Sheriff’s Office, Brule County Sheriff’s Office, Jerauld County Sheriff’s Office, Winner Police Department, Mitchell Police Department, and the Pierre Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
The counterfeit currency operation was a brazen scheme that involved creating and passing fake $100 bills at various businesses in central South Dakota. The scheme was uncovered after law enforcement located two firearms in Chao’s bed during the execution of a search warrant at his residence. Chao was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions.
The defendants were ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution to the victims of this matter, which was ordered to be paid jointly and severally. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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