JACKSONVILLE (Fla.) – A Spring Hill man was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for passing counterfeit money and printing.
The scheme has already led to the imprisonment of three other Tampa accomplices.
Prosecutors allege that Derrick Collins, 32 was responsible for creating counterfeit bills for his partner. Collins was able to pass the counterfeit currency on to the businesses. Individuals paid Collins a portion.
The operation was halted when Jacksonville police stopped a car that contained Collins and other people at River City Marketplace.
During a search of Collins’ vehicle, the officers discovered several counterfeit $100 bills inside the glove box as well as throughout the vehicle. The bills were then traced back to Collins by law enforcement.
Collins was stopped in November for allegedly drunk driving in New Port Richey. During a search, police found several sheets of counterfeit $100 bills, at different stages of manufacture, in the trunk and computer media. In the vehicle’s glove box, officers located completed counterfeit cash and illicit proceeds from the passing of counterfeit cash, bundled together.
Collins will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment and must also forfeit the computer equipment used in the creation of the fake bills. He will also have to forfeit $2,846.18 from illicit proceeds from counterfeiting. Collins was convicted on Oct. 25, following a bench trial.
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved.
0
0
