FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
JAMES LEE BROWN PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls on April 23, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, JAMES LEE BROWN, a 45-year-old resident of Great Falls, pled guilty to counterfeiting. Sentencing is set for August 4, 2008. He is currently detained.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On March 27, 2007, the undisputed leader of the counterfeiting ring, BROWN, Austin Mancha, Jeffrey Myre and others went to Wal-Mart where they purchased a stereo (to return for cash), and a printer, tape, scissors, paper and a ruler (requested by BROWN) using a fraudulent check.
BROWN, Mancha, Myre, and two others then went to BROWN'S home to begin processing counterfeit currency. BROWN printed counterfeit currency with the assistance of Mancha, K.P. and Myre. BROWN began by using concrete cleaner - a purple liquid - to bleach genuine $5 and $10 federal reserve notes. The conspirators then used the bleached paper to print counterfeit $100 federal reserve notes. At least one of the conspirators identified BROWN as the member of the group that had the expertise and knowledge of the "bleached bill" method of counterfeiting.
BROWN was arrested at a casino in Great Falls on April 10, 2007, for passing and possession of counterfeit currency. Upon BROWN'S arrest, his wife went to Mancha's residence where the printer and a bag of uncut counterfeit currency was held. BROWN'S wife and Mancha threw the printer and bag of uncut currency in the garbage dumpster. BROWN'S wife also took a large bottle of the concrete cleaner back to her residence and retrieved a second bag of uncut currency and a second bottle of concrete cleaner. BROWN'S wife then went to his sister's apartment - across the hall from BROWN'S apartment - and BROWN'S wife and sister flushed the evidence down the toilet and sink. The sink and toilet became plugged and the landlord had to take down part of the wall to repair the plumbing.
On April 11, 2007, a waste treatment plant employee discovered a $100 federal reserve note floating in the water. The employee took the note to a bank and determined it was counterfeit. The employee then turned the note over to the Great Falls Police Department. The note had the same serial number as one used by BROWN and it was printed on bleached genuine federal reserve note paper.
Also on April 11, 2007, three additional counterfeit bills - matching those passed by BROWN at the casino - were passed at Wal-Mart.
Mancha and Myre pled guilty to federal charges. Mancha has been sentenced and Myre is awaiting sentencing.
BROWN faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the U.S. Secret Service and the Great Falls Police Department.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
