Up North Lawyer

Counterfeiting of Currency

Fighting a Counterfeiting of Currency Accusation in St. Louis County with a Dedicated Defense Attorney

The world as you know it collapses the instant you learn you are being investigated or charged with counterfeiting of currency. In Northern Minnesota, where financial stability and trust are cornerstones of daily life, such an accusation can feel like a devastating blow to your entire existence. Perhaps you are in Duluth, reeling from the realization that your future, your job, and your standing in the community are suddenly at risk. The very word “counterfeiting” carries an immediate stigma, capable of tearing apart your reputation in a tight-knit town like Proctor or Two Harbors. The immense power of the state and federal government is now focused on you, and the feeling of isolation against such a formidable force can be overwhelming and terrifying.

This is not merely a legal term on a charging document; it is about your life, the one you have painstakingly built. In a close-knit community like Bemidji or Cloquet, an accusation of counterfeiting can lead to immediate suspicion and social ostracization, even before a single court date. Your immediate fears are entirely valid: Will you lose your job? How will this impact your family? How do you possibly clear your name in the face of such a serious and complex accusation? The federal and state legal systems, with their intricate rules, severe penalties, and intimidating procedures, can feel like an impenetrable fortress. But an accusation is not a conviction. It is the beginning of a fight, a challenge that demands a relentless advocate by your side. This moment of profound crisis demands a clear path forward, forged by strength, strategy, and an unwavering commitment to your defense.

The Stakes: What a Conviction Truly Costs

Your Permanent Criminal Record

A conviction for counterfeiting of currency in Minnesota, whether at the state or federal level (as federal law often applies to currency), results in a severe felony on your permanent criminal record. This is not a minor infraction that will fade with time; it is a lasting stain that will follow you for the rest of your life, accessible to anyone who conducts a background check. This includes potential employers, landlords, educational institutions, and even professional licensing boards. In a community like Two Harbors, where trust and integrity are highly valued, such a record can profoundly impact your ability to secure gainful employment, find stable housing, and even participate fully in society. It can close countless doors, making it incredibly challenging to rebuild your life and regain your standing after the accusation.

Loss of Second Amendment Rights

For many individuals across Northern Minnesota, the right to own firearms is a deeply cherished constitutional right, integral to personal protection, hunting, and sporting traditions. A felony conviction for counterfeiting of currency, regardless of whether it results in incarceration, can permanently strip you of your Second Amendment rights. This means you would be legally prohibited from possessing firearms, a profound and often devastating consequence for those who value these freedoms. This is not merely an inconvenience; it represents a fundamental curtailment of your personal liberties and can feel like a significant loss of independence and the ability to protect yourself and your family. The impact extends far beyond legal statutes, influencing your lifestyle and personal choices.

Barriers to Employment and Housing

In today’s highly competitive and increasingly scrutinized environment, a felony conviction for counterfeiting of currency creates immense and often insurmountable barriers to both stable employment and secure housing. Employers routinely conduct thorough background checks, and a felony conviction, particularly one involving financial dishonesty and fraud, can lead to immediate disqualification from almost all job opportunities, regardless of your skills or experience. This can be devastating for your career prospects, severely limiting your ability to find work and provide for yourself and your family. Similarly, landlords are increasingly vigilant about tenant screening, and a felony record can make it nearly impossible to secure safe and affordable housing, potentially leading to a cycle of instability and hardship long after your court case is concluded.

Impact on Professional Licenses and Reputation

For those who hold professional licenses—whether in finance, real estate, healthcare, or any other regulated field—a counterfeiting conviction can be career-ending. Licensing boards view offenses involving financial fraud with extreme gravity, almost invariably leading to the immediate suspension, permanent revocation, or denial of your professional license. This could mean the abrupt end of your chosen profession, stripping you of your livelihood and the ability to practice the skills you’ve spent years developing. Beyond professional repercussions, your personal and professional reputation in communities throughout St. Louis County, from Duluth to Cloquet, can be irrevocably tarnished, eroding trust among colleagues, clients, and friends, and leaving you struggling to regain your standing and rebuild your life.

The Accusation: Understanding the State’s Case

What Does the State Allege? Counterfeiting of Currency Explained in Plain English

When the state or federal government alleges counterfeiting of currency, they are accusing you of deliberately making, altering, or using fake money, postal money orders, or other U.S. government financial obligations with the intention to defraud. This isn’t about accidentally receiving a fake bill; it’s about active participation in creating or passing off something that looks real but isn’t, to deceive others. It could involve printing fake Federal Reserve notes, changing the details on a genuine postal money order to increase its value, or knowingly trying to use fake bills to buy something in a store.

The law also covers possessing the tools or materials used to make counterfeit money, such as printing plates, special paper, or even software designed for reproduction. Essentially, any step taken to create fake currency or circulate it, knowing it’s not real and intending to trick someone, falls under this serious charge. The government takes the integrity of its currency very seriously, so these accusations are met with significant resources and a determination to prosecute.

The Law on the Books: Minnesota Statute 609.632

Minnesota Statute 609.632 addresses the crime of counterfeiting currency, designed to protect the integrity of United States currency, postal money orders, Federal Reserve notes, and other U.S. government obligations or securities. This statute reflects the serious nature of undermining the nation’s financial system and aims to deter activities involving the false reproduction, alteration, or distribution of counterfeit money and securities. It covers not only the act of creating counterfeit items but also possessing the means to do so and knowingly passing them off as genuine.

609.632 COUNTERFEITING OF CURRENCY.

Subdivision 1.Manufacturing; printing.	Whoever, with the intent to defraud, falsely makes, alters, prints, scans, images, or copies any United States postal money order, United States currency, Federal Reserve note, or other obligation or security of the United States so that it purports to be genuine or has different terms or provisions than that of the United States Postal Service or United States Treasury is guilty of counterfeiting and may be sentenced as provided in subdivision 4.
Subd. 2.Means for false reproduction.	Whoever, with intent to defraud, makes, engraves, possesses, or transfers a plate or instrument, computer, printer, camera, software, paper, cloth, fabric, ink, or other material for the false reproduction of any United States postal money order, United States currency, Federal Reserve note, or other obligation or security of the United States is guilty of counterfeiting and may be sentenced as provided in subdivision 4.
Subd. 3.Uttering or possessing.	Whoever, with intent to defraud, utters or possesses with intent to utter any counterfeit United States postal money order, United States currency, Federal Reserve note, or other obligation or security of the United States, having reason to know that the money order, currency, note, or obligation or security is forged, counterfeited, falsely made, altered, or printed, is guilty of offering counterfeited currency and may be sentenced as provided in subdivision 4.
Subd. 4.Penalty.	(a) A person who is convicted of violating subdivision 1 or 2 may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 20 years or to payment of a fine of not more than $100,000, or both.
	(b) A person who is convicted of violating subdivision 3 may be sentenced as follows:
	(1) to imprisonment for not more than 20 years or to payment of a fine of not more than $100,000, or both, if the counterfeited item is used to obtain or in an attempt to obtain property or services having a value of more than $35,000, or the aggregate face value of the counterfeited item is more than $35,000;
	(2) to imprisonment for not more than ten years or to payment of a fine of not more than $20,000, or both, if the counterfeited item is used to obtain or in an attempt to obtain property or services having a value of more than $5,000, or the aggregate face value of the counterfeited item is more than $5,000;
	(3) to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both, if:
	(i) the counterfeited item is used to obtain or in an attempt to obtain property or services having a value of more than $1,000 or the aggregate face value of the counterfeited item is more than $1,000; or
	(ii) the counterfeited item is used to obtain or in an attempt to obtain property or services having a value of no more than $1,000, or the aggregate face value of the counterfeited item is no more than $1,000, and the person has been convicted within the preceding five years for an offense under this section, section 609.24; 609.245; 609.247; 609.52; 609.53; 609.582, subdivision 1, 2, or 3; 609.625; 609.63; or 609.821, or a statute from another state or the United States in conformity with any of those sections, and the person received a felony or gross misdemeanor sentence for the offense, or a sentence that was stayed under section 609.135 if the offense to which a plea was entered would allow the imposition of a felony or gross misdemeanor sentence; or
	(4) to imprisonment for not more than 364 days or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both, if the counterfeited item is used to obtain or in an attempt to obtain property or services having a value of no more than $1,000, or the aggregate face value of the counterfeited item is no more than $1,000.
Subd. 5.Aggregation; venue.	In any prosecution under this section, the value of the counterfeited United States postal money orders, United States currency, Federal Reserve notes, or other obligations or securities of the United States, offered by the defendant in violation of this section within any six-month period may be aggregated and the defendant charged accordingly in applying the provisions of this section. When two or more offenses are committed by the same person in two or more counties, the accused may be prosecuted in any county in which one of the counterfeited items was forged, offered, or possessed, for all of the offenses aggregated under this subdivision.

The Prosecution’s Burden: Elements of Counterfeiting of Currency

For the state or federal government to secure a conviction for counterfeiting of currency, they bear the extremely heavy burden of proving every single element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. If they fail to establish even one of these crucial elements with sufficient evidence, the entire case against you must fail. This is a fundamental principle of criminal law, placing the onus entirely on the prosecution. Understanding these specific elements is paramount because it highlights the precise points where a strategic defense can challenge the prosecution’s narrative, introduce reasonable doubt, and work towards a favorable outcome. Your attorney’s role is to meticulously scrutinize every piece of evidence presented and expose any weaknesses in the state’s attempt to prove each essential component of the charge.

  • Intent to Defraud: This is the most critical element across all subdivisions of the counterfeiting statute. The prosecution must prove that you acted with a specific intent to defraud someone. This means you intended to deceive another person or entity to gain a benefit or cause them a loss by passing off or creating something false as genuine. Without this clear intent, even if a fake item was involved, a core element of the crime is missing.
  • False Making, Altering, or Reproduction (Subdivision 1): If charged under Subdivision 1, the prosecution must prove that you falsely made, altered, printed, scanned, imaged, or copied any United States postal money order, U.S. currency, Federal Reserve note, or other U.S. obligation/security. This means creating something that purports to be genuine but isn’t, or changing a genuine item to have different, deceptive terms.
  • Possession/Transfer of Means for False Reproduction (Subdivision 2): If charged under Subdivision 2, the state must prove that you made, engraved, possessed, or transferred specific tools or materials (like plates, instruments, computers, printers, software, paper, ink, etc.) that are used for the false reproduction of the specified U.S. financial instruments, and that you did so with the intent to defraud. This targets the production side of counterfeiting.
  • Uttering or Possessing with Intent to Utter (Subdivision 3): If charged under Subdivision 3, the prosecution must prove that you either uttered (passed off, presented, or used) or possessed with intent to utter any counterfeit U.S. postal money order, currency, Federal Reserve note, or other U.S. obligation/security. This element focuses on the act of putting counterfeit items into circulation or planning to do so.
  • Reason to Know of Forgery/Counterfeit (Subdivision 3): Crucially for Subdivision 3, the state must prove that when you uttered or possessed the counterfeit item, you had reason to know that it was forged, counterfeited, falsely made, altered, or printed. This means you should have known it was fake, not that you accidentally came across it. Without this knowledge, the charge cannot stand.

The Potential Outcome: Penalties for a Counterfeiting of Currency Conviction

A conviction for counterfeiting of currency under Minnesota Statute 609.632 carries exceptionally severe penalties, reflecting the serious nature of these offenses against the nation’s financial system. These are felony charges, and the potential consequences are life-altering. The specific penalties depend on the subdivision violated and, crucially for “uttering” offenses, the aggregate face value of the counterfeit items or the value of property/services obtained.

For violations of Subdivision 1 (Manufacturing/Printing) or Subdivision 2 (Means for False Reproduction), you may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 20 years or to payment of a fine of not more than $100,000, or both. These are among the most severe penalties in Minnesota criminal law, underscoring the gravity of these offenses. For violations of Subdivision 3 (Uttering or Possessing with Intent to Utter), the penalties vary:

  • More than $35,000 (value obtained or aggregate face value): Imprisonment for not more than 20 years or a fine of not more than $100,000, or both.
  • More than $5,000 (value obtained or aggregate face value): Imprisonment for not more than ten years or a fine of not more than $20,000, or both.
  • More than $1,000 (value obtained or aggregate face value), or if a prior relevant felony/gross misdemeanor conviction exists within 5 years: Imprisonment for not more than five years or a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.
  • No more than $1,000 (value obtained or aggregate face value): Imprisonment for not more than 364 days or a fine of not more than $3,000, or both. This is still a gross misdemeanor, which carries significant consequences.

Regardless of the specific level, the potential for decades in prison, massive fines, and a permanent, devastating criminal record highlights the critical need for an immediate and aggressive defense from an attorney.

The Battle Plan: Building Your Strategic Defense

An Accusation is Not a Conviction: The Fight Starts Now

An accusation of counterfeiting of currency in Minnesota is not a declaration of guilt; it is simply the opening salvo in a fight for your freedom and your future. You are not a condemned individual; you are a client in crisis, and this attorney views your situation as a profound challenge that demands an immediate and aggressive response. The state and federal governments may believe they have an ironclad case, but their assertions must be rigorously tested, their evidence meticulously scrutinized, and their narrative challenged at every turn. This isn’t about passively accepting your fate; it’s about launching a proactive, strategic counter-offensive designed to dismantle the prosecution’s case piece by piece, exposing every weakness and every doubt.

Your defense is not a reaction to the state’s moves; it is a carefully orchestrated campaign. Every piece of evidence the prosecution presents, every witness they intend to call, and every claim they make will be subjected to intense scrutiny. The objective is clear: identify the flaws in their evidence, exploit any procedural missteps, and expose every reasonable doubt that exists. This demands a comprehensive investigation into the facts, a deep and current understanding of both state and federal law, and an unwavering commitment to protecting your rights. This fight begins now, and it requires an attorney who sees not merely a legal case, but a human life on the line, and is prepared to fight with tenacious dedication until a favorable outcome is achieved.

How a Counterfeiting of Currency Charge Can Be Challenged in Court

Facing a counterfeiting of currency charge requires a sophisticated and aggressive defense, as these cases often involve complex forensic evidence and severe penalties. A dedicated defense attorney will meticulously challenge every element the prosecution must prove, aiming to introduce reasonable doubt or secure a dismissal.

  • Lack of Intent to Defraud: The core element for all counterfeiting charges is the intent to defraud. If the prosecution cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you specifically intended to deceive someone by making, possessing, or uttering counterfeit currency, their case is significantly weakened.
    • Accidental Possession: You may have unknowingly come into possession of counterfeit currency without any intent to use it fraudulently. For example, you might have received it as change and genuinely believed it was real.
    • Good Faith Belief in Genuineness: If you truly believed the currency or money order was genuine, even if it later turned out to be counterfeit, the necessary intent to defraud or “reason to know” (for uttering) is absent.
    • No Attempt to Pass Off: For possession charges, if you possessed counterfeit items but had no intention of actually uttering or passing them off as genuine, this challenges a crucial element.
  • Lack of Knowledge of Counterfeit Nature (for Uttering/Possessing): For charges under Subdivision 3 (Uttering or Possessing), the state must prove you had “reason to know” the item was counterfeit. This is a critical point of attack.
    • Insufficient Awareness: The prosecution may not be able to prove that a reasonable person in your position would have known the item was counterfeit. Factors like poor lighting, quick transactions, or the quality of the counterfeit can be relevant.
    • No Experience/Training with Counterfeit: You may lack the background or experience to reasonably identify counterfeit currency, further weakening the “reason to know” element.
    • Immediate Reporting: If you discovered the counterfeit nature and immediately reported it to authorities or tried to remove it from circulation, this demonstrates a lack of intent to defraud and a lack of “reason to know” at the time of initial possession.
  • Challenging Forensic Evidence: Counterfeiting cases often heavily rely on forensic evidence related to the production or identification of fake currency. This evidence is not infallible and can be challenged.
    • Flawed Analysis: Expert testimony regarding the authenticity or origin of the counterfeit items can be challenged by an independent forensic analysis, revealing flaws in the state’s methods or conclusions.
    • Chain of Custody Issues: Any break in the chain of custody for the alleged counterfeit items can lead to their exclusion from evidence, severely weakening the prosecution’s case.
    • Lack of Link to Defendant: Even if counterfeit items are found, the prosecution must definitively link them to you. Absence of your fingerprints, DNA, or other direct evidence can create reasonable doubt.
  • Constitutional Rights Violations: Law enforcement must adhere to strict constitutional standards when investigating and arresting individuals. Violations can lead to the suppression of key evidence.
    • Unlawful Search and Seizure: If the counterfeit items or means of reproduction were discovered through an illegal search without a warrant or probable cause, they could be deemed inadmissible in court.
    • Miranda Violations: If you were interrogated by law enforcement without being properly read your Miranda rights, any statements made could be suppressed.
    • Lack of Probable Cause for Arrest: If your arrest was made without probable cause, any evidence gathered as a result of that unlawful arrest could be challenged and excluded.

Defense in Action: Scenarios in Northern Minnesota

Scenario in Bemidji: The Accidental Counterfeit Bill

In Bemidji, a college student, Alex, was working a part-time job at a local diner. During a busy rush, a customer paid with a $50 bill that appeared genuine. Hours later, while counting the till, a manager noticed the bill felt “off” and, upon closer inspection, realized it was counterfeit. Alex was later accused of “uttering” counterfeit currency, even though he genuinely believed the bill was real when he received it.

Alex’s defense would center on lack of reason to know of the counterfeit nature. His attorney would highlight the fast-paced environment of the diner, the difficulty for an untrained individual to spot a good counterfeit, and the fact that he immediately reported it once suspicion arose. The defense would argue that Alex lacked the necessary “reason to know” that the bill was counterfeit at the time he accepted it, and therefore lacked the intent to defraud.

Scenario in Cloquet: The Innocent Printer Purchase

In Cloquet, a graphic designer, Maria, bought a high-quality printer, special paper, and inks for legitimate art projects. Unbeknownst to her, a friend who occasionally visited her home used her equipment one night to print a small amount of counterfeit currency, intending to use it elsewhere. When law enforcement investigated the friend, they traced the print back to Maria’s printer, leading to a charge against her for possessing “means for false reproduction.”

Maria’s defense would focus on lack of intent to defraud and lack of knowledge regarding the friend’s actions. Her attorney would provide evidence of her legitimate graphic design business, receipts for her materials, and testimony from others about her character. The defense would argue that Maria had no intent to defraud, no knowledge of the counterfeiting, and that the friend’s illicit use of her equipment occurred without her consent or awareness.

Scenario in Two Harbors: The Inherited “Souvenir” Bills

In Two Harbors, an elderly collector, Robert, inherited a box of old “novelty” bills from his grandfather, mixed in with genuine foreign currency. Some of these novelty bills, unbeknownst to Robert, were actually very old, poorly made counterfeits of U.S. currency that his grandfather had collected as curiosities. When Robert attempted to sell a mixed lot of his collection at a local coin show, an attendee recognized some of the U.S. bills as fake, leading to an accusation of “uttering” counterfeit currency.

Robert’s defense would hinge on lack of reason to know the bills were counterfeit and lack of intent to defraud. His attorney would present evidence of his genuine collecting hobby, the nature of the inherited collection, and the fact that the counterfeits were so old and poorly made that a reasonable person unfamiliar with them might not immediately recognize them as fake. The defense would argue that Robert truly believed all the items were collector’s pieces, not intending to defraud anyone.

Scenario in Proctor: The Online “Prop Money” Order

In Proctor, a local filmmaker, Dave, ordered what he believed was “prop money” online for a low-budget film project. The website advertised it as clearly fake. However, some of the bills he received were surprisingly convincing. Dave used these bills on set during filming, and a passerby, noticing them, reported them as counterfeit currency, leading to a charge against Dave for possessing “means for false reproduction” (the bills themselves as a “means”).

Dave’s defense would center on his lack of intent to defraud and his good faith belief that the items were legitimate props. His attorney would present the online order, the website’s description of “prop money,” and testimony from crew members about the film shoot. The defense would argue that Dave purchased and possessed the items solely for artistic purposes, with no intention whatsoever of using them as genuine currency to defraud anyone, thereby negating the required intent element.

The Advocate: Why a Dedicated Duluth Defense Attorney is Essential

Countering the Resources of the State

When you face a counterfeiting of currency accusation in Duluth, you are up against not just a state prosecutor but potentially the full might of the federal government, including agencies like the Secret Service and the Department of Justice. This formidable opposition has access to sophisticated forensic laboratories, unlimited financial resources for multiple expert witnesses, and the collective power of various government agencies, all singularly focused on securing a conviction. To attempt to navigate this alone is to place yourself at an overwhelming and frankly dangerous disadvantage. A dedicated Duluth defense attorney serves as your essential counterweight, leveling the playing field. This attorney understands the intricate strategies federal and state agencies employ, anticipates their next moves, and possesses the legal acumen necessary to challenge their evidence, cross-examine their witnesses, and expose every weakness in their carefully constructed case. It is about bringing an equally formidable and specialized force to bear against the immense power arrayed against you.

Strategic Command of the St. Louis County Courts

Successfully navigating the intricacies of the St. Louis County court system—or potentially federal court, given the nature of counterfeiting—requires far more than a basic understanding of the law; it demands strategic command. This encompasses an intimate knowledge of local court procedures, the unwritten rules and customs, the specific tendencies and preferences of individual judges, and the prosecutorial styles of attorneys within the St. Louis County prosecutor’s office, as well as federal prosecutors. A defense attorney deeply ingrained in the local legal landscape understands precisely how to maneuver through the system efficiently, knowing when to push aggressively for a hearing, when to engage in strategic negotiations, and when to prepare for a rigorous trial. This profound, localized understanding of the St. Louis County courts and potential federal courts is an invaluable asset, critically positioning your case for the most favorable outcome possible.

Fighting for Your Story, Not Just the Police Report

A police report or federal agent’s incident report detailing a counterfeiting accusation almost invariably presents a one-sided narrative, crafted from the perspective of law enforcement and based solely on their initial findings and the accuser’s statements. This report rarely, if ever, captures the full context of the situation, your true intentions, or any crucial mitigating circumstances that led to the charge. The state and federal governments will heavily rely on this incomplete narrative, presenting it as undeniable truth. A dedicated defense attorney understands that your story is far more complex, nuanced, and absolutely vital to your defense. This attorney will meticulously investigate every detail, uncover overlooked facts, seek out witnesses the police or agents may have ignored, and meticulously gather evidence to construct a complete and accurate picture. It is about ensuring your voice is heard, your intentions are understood, and your version of events is presented powerfully, preventing the prosecution’s narrow, damaging narrative from becoming the accepted reality in the courtroom.

An Unwavering Commitment to a Winning Result

Facing a counterfeiting of currency charge can feel like an existential threat, jeopardizing everything you’ve worked for and your very freedom. What you need is not just legal advice, but an unwavering commitment from an attorney who considers your situation their paramount mission. This means a relentless, exhaustive pursuit of every conceivable avenue for your defense, ranging from challenging the fundamental legality and admissibility of the prosecution’s evidence to engaging in aggressive negotiations for a favorable plea agreement, or fiercely battling for your rights at trial. It means securing an attorney who remains undeterred by the sheer complexity of the case or the immense power of the state and federal governments, but instead views every obstacle as a renewed opportunity to fight harder for your freedom. This unwavering commitment is a solemn promise: to stand as your advocate, your protector, and your champion, absolutely dedicated to achieving the best possible winning result for you.

Your Questions Answered

What is the most important element for the prosecution to prove in a counterfeiting case?

The most crucial element is “intent to defraud.” Without proving that you specifically intended to deceive someone by using or creating counterfeit currency, the prosecution’s case is severely weakened.

Can I be charged with counterfeiting if I accidentally received a fake bill?

No, simply receiving a fake bill unknowingly is not a crime. The law requires “intent to defraud” or “reason to know” (for uttering). If you truly didn’t know it was fake, you haven’t committed the crime.

Is counterfeiting a state or federal crime?

Counterfeiting of U.S. currency is primarily a federal crime, investigated by agencies like the Secret Service. However, Minnesota has its own statute (609.632) that allows state-level prosecution, often in conjunction with federal charges.

What are “means for false reproduction”?

This refers to any tools, materials, or equipment used to create counterfeit currency, such as specialized printers, paper, ink, plates, cameras, or even computer software designed for that purpose.

What does “uttering” counterfeit currency mean?

“Uttering” means to pass off, present, or use counterfeit currency as if it were genuine, with the intent to defraud someone. This includes trying to make a purchase with it.

What is the maximum penalty for manufacturing counterfeit currency?

Under Minnesota law, manufacturing or possessing means for false reproduction can lead to imprisonment for up to 20 years or a fine of up to $100,000, or both.

Can the value of the counterfeit money affect my sentence?

Yes, for uttering or possessing charges, the aggregate face value of the counterfeit money (or the value of property obtained) directly impacts the severity of the potential penalty. Higher values mean harsher sentences.

How do law enforcement agencies detect counterfeit currency?

They use various methods, including specialized training for officers, forensic analysis of the currency’s materials and printing, and intelligence gathering on counterfeiting operations.

Should I talk to federal agents if they contact me about counterfeiting?

Absolutely not. Just as with local police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent and your right to an attorney. Do not answer any questions without legal counsel present.

Can I argue that the counterfeit was of poor quality and easily detectable?

Yes, for “uttering” charges, arguing that you had no “reason to know” it was counterfeit can involve demonstrating that the quality was so poor that no reasonable person would have accepted it, or that the transaction circumstances prevented close inspection.

What if I bought “prop money” online that turned out to be too realistic?

If you genuinely purchased items advertised as “prop money” for legitimate purposes (like film or theater) and had no intent to defraud, this could be a defense, as the crucial element of intent to defraud would be missing.

Will a counterfeiting conviction affect my ability to get a job in finance?

A conviction for counterfeiting, which is a serious financial fraud felony, would almost certainly make it impossible to secure employment in any financial sector due to the inherent lack of trust.

How can forensic evidence be challenged in a counterfeiting case?

An attorney can challenge the validity of the state’s forensic testing methods, the qualifications of their experts, or argue that the chain of custody for the evidence was compromised, potentially leading to its exclusion.

Can previous convictions impact my current counterfeiting charge?

Yes, particularly for uttering/possessing charges involving values of $1,000 or less, a prior felony or gross misdemeanor conviction for certain related offenses within the past five years can escalate the current charge to a felony level.

What is the aggregation rule in Minnesota counterfeiting cases?

Subdivision 5 allows the prosecution to combine the value of all counterfeit items you allegedly used or possessed within a six-month period to determine the appropriate penalty level, potentially increasing the severity of the charge.