Defendants Charged In Conspiracy To Manufacture And Pass Counterfeit Currency Are Sentenced

LUBBOCK, Texas — Harley Graves, 29, of Lubbock, Texas, was sentenced this morning by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 41 months in federal prison, following his guilty plea in August 2012 to one count of conspiracy to manufacture, possess and pass counterfeit U.S. currency. In addition, Graves was ordered to pay $4,600 restitution, jointly and severally with his two convicted co-defendants. Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

The two other defendants who were charged in the case have been convicted and were sentenced last month. Thomas Vasquez, 36, of Lubbock, pleaded guilty to a misprision of a felony and was sentenced to six months in federal prison and Augustine Moreno, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess and pass counterfeit U.S. currency and was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison. Graves and Moreno have been in custody; Vasquez was ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on January 25, 2013.

According to documents filed in the case, Graves admitted that he came to Lubbock to do a large counterfeit deal that was arranged by Vasquez. He also admitted that he manufactured counterfeit U.S. currency in his hotel room in Lubbock. He also admitted that he passed some of that currency at small restaurants in Lubbock. Moreno admitted that he obtained counterfeit currency from Vasquez and that he assisted others in passing the currency by driving them to various locations in his car. Moreno also admitted that he passed several counterfeit bills at small restaurants and a Kohls in Lubbock. Vasquez admitted allowing individuals that he knew possessed the counterfeit currency to use his car to deliver the counterfeit currency to other individuals who would pass it or to individuals who passed the currency themselves, and did not make it known to authorities. He also allowed individuals to stay at his house while making the counterfeit currency.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Roberts was in charge of the prosecution.