Ohio Man Sentenced for Role in a Conspiracy to Distribute Counterfeit $100 Bills

PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Columbus, Ohio, has been sentenced in federal court to time served, approximately eight months incarceration, and three years supervised release on his conviction of conspiracy to utter and pass counterfeit Federal Reserve notes, and for possession of counterfeit Federal Reserve notes, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Chief United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Nathaniel Lee, age 35, of Columbus, Ohio.

According to information presented to the court, it was part of the conspiracy that Lee and his co-conspirators obtained counterfeit Federal Reserve notes in the denomination of $100 dollars in Ohio and transported the counterfeit Federal Reserve notes into the Western District of Pennsylvania. It was further a part of the conspiracy that on numerous occasions, Lee and his co-conspirators passed, and attempted to pass, counterfeit $100 bills at various retail store locations in the Western District of Pennsylvania and received legitimate currency as change. Lee also possessed several counterfeit Federal Reserve notes in the denomination of $100.

Assistant United States Attorney Mary McKeen Houghton prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Secret Service, the Scott Township Police Department, the North Fayette Police Department, and the Bethel Park Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the conviction in this case.