Man Charged with Manufacturing & Passing Counterfeit $100 Bills
Las Vegas, Nev. - A Las Vegas man has been charged with making over a thousand counterfeit $100 bills (Federal Reserve notes) and passing them at various businesses in Las Vegas, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.
ALBERTO TAPIA PEREA, age 30, of Las Vegas, was indicted today by the Federal Grand Jury in Las Vegas and charged with Conspiracy (to make, possess and pass counterfeit Federal reserve notes), Making Counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes, and Possessing Counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes.
According to the court records, PEREA was arrested on November 17, 2004, after he tried to pass a counterfeit $100 bill at PT's Bar and Grill at 1281 South Decatur. A search of his person led to the discovery of six more counterfeit $100 bills on his person. A search of PEREA'S residence in Las Vegas led to the discovery and seizure of 1,142 images of counterfeit $100 bills, a personal computer and printer/scanner/copier, and other items used to manufacture counterfeit currency.
The Indictment states that from approximately November 17, 2003, to November 17, 2004, PEREA and others allegedly entered into a conspiracy to manufacture and pass counterfeit Federal Reserve notes in Las Vegas. It charges that PEREA manufactured counterfeit $100 bills on an Epson Scanner/Printer/Copier that he purchased at an electronic store in Las Vegas, and that he and his co-conspirators passed the bills at businesses in Las Vegas in exchange for merchandise, services, and genuine currency. It alleges that on and before November 17, 2004, PEREA allegedly manufactured and possessed $143,902 worth of counterfeit $100 bills, which includes both the number of bills seized from the residence and others turned into law enforcement later by financial institutions.
PEREA is currently in federal custody in Las Vegas.
This case is being investigated by Special Agents with the United States Secret Service and Detectives with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Bliss.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
