PITTSBURGH – An Ohio resident pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Joshua Kinney, 29, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty to one count before Chief United States District Court Joy Flowers Conti.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that it was a part of the conspiracy that Kinney and his co-conspirators obtained counterfeit Federal Reserve notes in the denomination of $100 dollars in Ohio and transported the counterfeit Federal Reserve notes into the Western District of Pennsylvania. It was further a part of the conspiracy that on numerous occasions Kinney and his co-conspirators passed, and attempted to pass, counterfeit $100 bills at various retail store locations in the Western District of Pennsylvania and received legitimate currency as change.
Chief Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for August 31, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Mary McKeen Houghton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Secret Service, the Scott Township Police Department, the North Fayette Police Department, and the Bethel Park Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the conviction in this case.
--DOJ Western District of Pennsylvania