Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that two individuals from Chugiak, Alaska, and a third from Anchorage, Alaska, have been charged in two separate indictments with multiple counts of passing counterfeit money. Two of the defendants are also charged with conspiring to make and pass counterfeit money.
Eugene David Downey, Jr., 42, of Anchorage, Alaska, is charged in a four-count indictment as the sole defendant passing counterfeit money at several stores in the Anchorage area.
Matthew Lee Daley, 28, of Chugiak, Alaska, is charged in a seven-count indictment together with Christa Louise Speiser, 30, also of Chugiak, who is charged in four of the seven counts with making and passing counterfeit money in the Eagle River area, and also for conspiring together to do so.
According to the indictment, between August and November 2013, Downey passed several counterfeit $50 bills at stores in the Anchorage area.
The indictment against Daley and Speiser charges that on November 7, 2013, the two passed several counterfeit $100 bills at stores in the Eagle River area. Daley and Speiser are charged with making the counterfeit money using a computer and laptop at their residence, and conspiring to make and pass counterfeit money.
In both cases the counterfeit money was made of genuine Federal Reserve Notes, $1 and $5 bills, that were bleached and reprinted with $50 and $100 bills. The cases do not appear to be related.
Downey is currently in state custody. Daley was arrested on these charges on Friday, and an arrest warrant has been issued for Speiser.
“Each year hundreds of counterfeit bills are passed in Anchorage causing financial hardship to those who unwittingly accept them as payment. Counterfeiting is a serious crime, and it is important that we deter those who would consider creating or using fake currency," stated Kevin Feldis, Chief of the Criminal Division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or both, according to Aunnie Steward, Assistant U.S. Attorney, who presented the case to the grand jury. Under federal sentencing statutes, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The United States Secret Service and the Anchorage Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictments in these cases.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
