United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell has announced the sentencing of three South Dakota men involved in a counterfeit currency scheme. U.S. District Court Judge Eric C. Schulte delivered the sentences on January 13, 2025.

Sonny Chao, aged 36 from Oacoma, South Dakota, received a sentence of seven and a half years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Anthony Martinez, aged 24 from Chamberlain, South Dakota, was sentenced to one month in federal prison with an additional two years of supervised release. He was required to pay a $200 special assessment to the same fund.

Gino Martinez, aged 21 also from Chamberlain, received two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.

All three were directed to jointly and severally pay $7,500 in restitution to the victims involved in this case.

The defendants faced indictment by a federal grand jury in June 2024. Sonny Chao pleaded guilty on October 16, 2024, to charges including Possession of Electronic Image for Counterfeiting Obligations or Securities and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. Anthony Martinez pleaded guilty on October 17, 2024, to two counts of Passing Counterfeit U.S. Currency while Gino Martinez entered his plea on October 15, 2024.

The convictions are linked to activities between November 28, 2023, and March 17, 2024. Chao utilized electronic images on his computer to produce counterfeit $100 Federal Reserve Notes which were circulated across central South Dakota businesses. The method involved removing ink from genuine $1 notes before printing fake images onto them. Both Anthony and Gino Martinez assisted by distributing these counterfeit bills at various locations.

A search warrant executed at Chao's residence led law enforcement officials to discover two firearms hidden under his bed; he was prohibited from firearm possession due to prior felony convictions.

This investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including the U.S. Secret Service with support from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI along with several local law enforcement bodies such as the South Dakota Highway Patrol among others. Assistant U.S Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted this case successfully resulting in immediate remandment for both Chao and Anthony Martinez into U.S Marshal’s custody following their sentencing hearing.