United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

DALLAS MAN SENTENCED TO NEARLY THREE YEARS
IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE,
FOR CONSPIRING TO MANUFACTURE COUNTERFEIT U.S. CURRENCY

DALLAS — Steven Allen, of Dallas, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer on Friday to 34 months in prison for conspiring to manufacture and possess counterfeit currency, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper, of the Northern District of Texas. In March 2007, a federal grand jury in Dallas charged Allen, 39, with the conspiracy, as well as one count each of manufacturing and possessing counterfeit obligations. He pled guilty to the conspiracy count in July. Co-defendant Krystal Pell, 35, was charged with the conspiracy and possessing counterfeit obligation. She is scheduled to enter her guilty plea before the Court to the conspiracy charge next week.

Both Allen and Pell admitted in documents filed in Court that they conspired together to manufacture and possess counterfeit obligations of the United States. In 2006, Allen and Pell devised a scheme in which they manufactured counterfeit money and sold it for real currency. On December 10, 2006, Allen conspired with Pell to transport the counterfeiting equipment, including paper, trimmers, shredder, colored pencils, exacto knife, and glue, as well as notes, to a hotel to continue manufacturing the counterfeit currency. In fact, Allen and Pell had made serval appointments to sell the counterfeit money later that night. However, before they could reach their destination, there were arrested on a routine traffic stop, and during the search of their vehicle, the counterfeit money and equipment were found.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the U.S. Secret Service. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Juan G. Rodriguez.

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