Monroe Man Convicted by Federal Jury of Counterfeiting

$100s, $20s, and $10s Printed at Home

June 24, 2010 - MONROE, LA—Wilbert C. Ross, 36, of Monroe, Louisiana was convicted today by a federal jury of one count of counterfeiting, United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Trial testimony showed that the FBI Gang Task Force investigation into the passing of several counterfeit bills in Bastrop, Louisiana led authorities to Ross’ apartment, where they seized a color printer and several printed pages of torn counterfeit currency in a trash bag. Ross was the source of several counterfeit bills recovered in the Bastrop area, which he had printed and sold out of his apartment.

Ross is scheduled for sentencing on October 4, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Robert G. James. Ross faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Sentencing in federal court is determined by the discretion of federal judges and the governing statute.

The case was investigated by the Bastrop Police Department, the Morehouse Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Gang Task Force, and the United States Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Scott Williams.