New York Man Arrested in Enfield Pleads Guilty to Counterfeiting Charge

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL A. STEVENS, 26, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to one count of conspiracy to falsely make, forge, counterfeit and pass Federal Reserve Notes.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 7, 2019, Enfield Police arrested Stevens and another individual after they attempted to pass counterfeit currency at a Dick’s Sporting Goods store in Enfield.  A subsequent search of their vehicle revealed more than $600 in counterfeit currency, 33 pages of paper with uncut $50 and $20 counterfeit notes, an unopened box of paper, and a printer.

The investigation revealed that, in late April 2019, Stevens and others passed hundreds of dollars in counterfeit currency at retail locations in New Britain and Vernon.

Investigators also learned that there was an active federal warrant for Stevens’ arrest in the Eastern District of Virginia.  On February 21, 2019, a federal grand jury in Richmond, Virginia, returned as indictment charging Stevens and four other individuals with counterfeiting offenses.  The case against Stevens was transferred to the District of Connecticut for further prosecution.

In pleading guilty, Stevens admitted that, in January 2019, he and others passed approximately $21,800 in counterfeit currency at locations in Fredericksburg and Richmond, Virginia.

Judge Shea scheduled sentencing for April 24, 2020, at which time Steven faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.  Stevens who had been detained since May 7, 2019, was released today on a $50,000 bond.

This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Secret Service with the assistance of several local police departments.  The case in the District of Connecticut is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.